v^. 

Waller 
Tittl 


Colonial 
Holidays 


COLONIAL 
HOLIDAYS 

3eing  a  Collection  of 
Qontenwom^oc(xinJts 
of  HpLO\iCd.ebra 
tions  \x\Cotoniaf  Climes 
Compiled,  Illustrated 
and  Illuminated  by 

Walter  Tittle 


New 


York 
Page'SlCo. 


<=<j 


SRLF 
URL 


OCI3010ZO 


To  My  Mother 


PREFACE 

It  is  greatly  to  be  deplored  that  our 
forefathers  did  not  foresee  our  desire 
to  know  how  their  Christmases  were 
spent*  Interesting  would  be  the  tales 
they  could  have  told  had  they  not 
been  too  busy  with  their  festivities  to 
think  of  recording  them*  But  we 
must  content  ourselves  with  a  few 
old  diaries  and  meagre  letters  treas- 
ured in  libraries  and  historical  societies, 
or  owned  privately  by  the  writers 
descendants. 

The  New  England  material  consists 
very  largely  of  Puritan  protests  against 
celebrations,  which  sometimes  afford 
us  tantalizing  hints  of  the  nature  of 
the  occasions*  Virginia  and  the  South 
are  particularly  bald  of  accounts* 
The  few  diaries  from  these  sections 


that  are  extant  are  significantly  silent 
when  the  holidays  begin,  and  we  can 
infer  that  the  old  cavaliers  had  time 
for  pleasure  only,  daring  that  joyous 
period*  And  some  of  them,  doubt- 
less, consumed  more  spiced  wassail 
than  was  reconcilable  with  holding 
a  pen* 

The  bitterness  of  Puritan  hatred  of 
Christmas  celebration  is  difficult  for 
us  to  conceive  in  this  day,  A  lively 
picture  of  the  Puritan  point  of  view 
of  the  Christmas  festivities  of  the  olden 
time  is  afforded  us  by  Stubbes  in  his 
"Anatomie  of  Abuses  in  England/' 
and  by  Prynne  in  his  "Histrio- 
Mastix."  The  merrymakings  of  that 
day  were  doubtless  carried  very  much 
to  excess.  That  this  is  Stubbes's 
opinion  is  vouched  for  by  his  con- 
demnation of  the  participants  as 


"  hell-hounds "  in  his  bitter  tirade 
against  their  "Deville's  daunce"  of 
merriment*  Prynne  said  that  Christ- 
mas ought  to  be  "rather  a  day  of 
mourning  than  of  rejoicing,"  and  not 
a  time  to  be  spent  in  "  amorous  mixtt 
voluptuous,  unchristian,  that  I  say 
not  pagan,  dancing,  to  God's,  to 
Christ's  dishonour,  religion's  scandal, 
chastftie's  shipwracke  and  sinne's  ad- 
vantage/' 

Such  was  the  attitude  of  our  Pil- 
grim Fathers  toward  holiday  celebra- 
tion* The  first  Christmas  at  Plymouth 
was  spent  in  building  a  house  for  the 
wanderers,  and  we  are  told  that  "  no 
man  rested  all  that  day/'  But  our 
hearts  go  out  to  the  kindly  master 
of  the  ship,  who  marked  the  occasion 
by  causing  them  to  "have  some 
Beere/' 


But  time  brings  change,  and  even 
though  the  mills  of  the  Puritan  Gods 
ground  particularly  slow,  we  find 
mention  in  the  diary  of  William 
Pynchon  of  a  dance  in  the  holiday 
season  of  1783  at  Endicot's,  in  Salem, 
descendants  of  austere  John  Endicot 
who  cut  down  the  Maypole  at  Ma-re 
Mount.  Picture  the  indignation  of 
the  stern  old  Puritan,  could  he  have 
foreseen  this  radical  departure  from 
the  old  standards!  And  even  at  this 
late  date  the  elders  shake  their 
heads  with:  "What  are  we  coming 
to?"  The  diarist  himself  seems  to 
feel  that  they  are  becoming  a  bit  reck- 
less in  their  dissipation,  for  he  records 
a  goodly  array  of  dances  with  notice- 
able care;  and  is  there  not  a  trace  of 
sly  amusement  in  his  remarking  the 
dance  at  Brother  Goodale's? 


Contents 

CHRISTMAS 


PAGE 

The  First  Christmas  Days  at  Plymouth,  J620-2J  —Bradford  and  Mourt  \ 

Christmas  in  Virginia  with  Captain  John  Smith  .  .  .  .  .  2 

Pastimes  in  Virginia  in  J609-  JO  —  Henry  Spelman  ....  3 

Christmas  Mentioned  in  Old  New  Amsterdam  Records,  f  654  .  .  4 

Christmas  in  Boston,  J685,  J697  and  J722—  Samuel  Sewall  .  .  .  5 

Holiday  Time  in  New  York,  J745  and  1747— Elisha  Parker  .  8 
Thanksgiving  the  Puritan  Substitute  for  Christmas,  J750  —  Capt.  Francis 

Goelet  ....                 ..        .  ^  9 

The  Christmas  Holidays  of  a  Puritan  Girl,  J77J— Anna  Green  Winslow  10 

Christmas  in  New  York  in  f  773    .         .         .         ."       .         .         <•      :„  J4 

A  Notable  Christmas  with  Washington,  J776        .         .         .         .         .  J5 

A  Quiet  Christmas  with  Washington  in  New  York       .         .         .         .   •  J6 

A  Christmas  Eve  Dinner  with  Washington  in  Philadelphia,  J795 — The- 

ophilus  Bradbury  .  .  ;  .  .  J7 

Christmas  with  Washington  at  Mt.  Vernon,  f  799  —  Mrs.  Gushing  .  J8 

The  Christmas  Season  in  Philadelphia,  J767-87  — Jacob  Hiltzheimer  .  J9 

Christmas  in  Salem,  \ 780-87  —  William  Pynchon  20 

Christmas  at  Valley  Forge,  \ 777—  Dr.  Albigence  Waldo  2J 

NEW  YEAR'S   DAY 

New  Year's  Day  in  Colonial  Times  —  Marquis  de  Chastellux        ,         ..  23 

New  Year's  Day,  J790  — George  Washington  25 

New  Year's  Day  in  Boston,  J723  —  Samuel  Sewall                          .         .  26 

New  Year's  Day  in  Philadelphia,  J767  —Jacob  Hiltzheimer  ...  27 

id 


xii  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

A  Festive  New  Year's  in  Salem,  J  783— William  Pynchon       .  ,  28 

ST.  VALENTINE'S  DAY 

A  Curious  St.  Valentine's  Custom — The  Connoisseur,  J754     ....  29 

Valentine's  Day,  J772 — Anna  Green  Winslow ^  .  30 

Madame  Pepys'  Valentine — Pepys*  Diary,  1667 31 

Valentine's  Day  in  Philadelphia,  1667 — Jacob  Hiltzheimer     ....  32 

/' 

EASTER 

Easter,  J688 — Samuel  Sewall 33 

Easter  in  Boston,  J772 — Anna  Green  Winslow 33 

ALL  FOOLS'  DAY 

Verse  From  Poor  Robin's  Almanack,  1760 34 

All  Fools'  Day  in  Boston,  J772 — Anna  Green  Winslow  ....  34 

MAY  DAY 

May  Day  Celebration  at  Ma-re  Mount,  J628 — Gov.  Bradford         ...  35 

May  Day  at  Ma-re  Mount,  J628 — Thomas  Morton 36 

An  Amusing  May-day  Incident — Alice  Morse  Earle,  in  Stage  Coach  and 

Tavern  1>ays 39 

INDEPENDENCE  DAY 

Independence  Day  with  Washington,  1790 — Washington's  Diary   ...  40 

Independence  Day  in  Philadelphia,  J78J,  J783  and  J786— Jacob  Hiltzheimer  41 

A  Curious  Ode  to  Independence  Day 42 

THE  ROYAL  BIRTHDAYS 

A  Celebration  of  the  Queen's  Birthday  in  Boston,  J714 — Samuel  Sewall         .  44 

Celebration  of  Royal  Birthdays  in  New  York,  J734-4 45 


CONTENTS  xiii 

PAGE 
The  King's  Birthday  in  Boston,  1750— Capt.  Francis  Goelet  .        .        .47 


A  "Turtle  Frolick"  in  Boston,  1750— Capt.  Francis  Goelet     ....  48 

St.  Andrew's  Day  in  Virginia,  J737 — From  the  Virginia  Gazette     ...  49 

Election  Day,  J8J7 51 

THANKSGIVING  DAY 

The  First  Thanksgiving  Held  in  North  America,  J578 52 

A  Thanksgiving  at  Sagadahoc  in  1607 53 

Thanksgiving    at   Plymouth,    J62J — Gov.   Bradford,  Thomas  Morton   and 

Edward  Winslow 54 

The  Fast  and  Thanksgiving  of  1623 — Gov.  Bradford  and  Edward  Winslow    .  57 

A  Thanksgiving  with  Anna  Green  Winslow,  J77J 59 

A  New  England  Thanksgiving  Dinner,  J779 — Juliana  Smith  ...  62 

Thanksgiving  at  Valley  Forge,  J778 — George  Washington      ....  66 

Thanksgiving  in  New  York — George  Washington 68 

A  Thanksgiving  at  Scituate  Church,  J636 69 

The  Thanksgiving  Law,  1636         .........  70 

The  First  Thanksgiving  Proclamation  in  Early  New  York  Records,  J645         .  71 

Thanksgiving  in  Boston  in  J685  and  J688 — Samuel  Sewall     ....  72 


•ffk 


Christmas  dinner  at  Mouitf\%rnon 
dndton  gives  his  favorite  toas 

XT©  C/C"!*«»^  •  7 

ar  friends  ^%^  ~^~> 


, 
V,;::  : ::  .bdruJ  pails 


cvcni  up  before 

,pa£,andiFftn>il«i  r 

We  added  to  our  eiwgv-  ^  f  ^ 


& 

eibjeinedirfend<.tiom>ar  ou 
i  COHHIW;  upon  political  j 


ntiM'naddle  (4  il«- table  was  placed  ajMtH-i*  or  iawe  '»'  /M^    ti       '^* 
lurraiiiit  alW  six  feet  lontfond  two  M  Hide,nnJi>  ^  Vj"  ^**; 

dedot^eiwl$.|i>a$cUl>erot''mx>dpiUc'd.<rfH)l-  ij\slr         •  ^*Jwji  I 
Hn^o  inetid,rai>raaLoui  an  iiiLTiMiint*  silver  ritii     V^    ^> 
round  riiikenmi  rotindftieaDoanJ-.in me centnuwaf  *  *  -^f '^^ 

I    j  i    p   i    i        /'T^    •      •./!   •  'It    *  t^^^'*"  "%fr-    I 

ft  pedestal  <s  piaster  or  Jtwis  MIUI  ima^s  upon  ii,  </ 

oa  eackend  iijfun^,moJe  L  temale,<4  rnr  .Same.  Ju    t\^ 
and  mi 


nil 


anxiiKl.iuw 


l  il 


n  or  ^< 


clisKes  wen* 

e0ant  . 

fMUh*6.c/,pucl(lir»0s.jr!lu><i.orrtrK>M.iipplrs.nui\itl(iHxi(i1i  »] 
• 


ft 


^/<Mfl 

vX^ 


- 

etook  our  leave  at  Jix,  morn  /L-»n  an  Inwr  ' 
after  me  cf^ndlej  H^ITP  introduced.  *    • 
here  wen?  eJxnii  fv*eriiy  oucsij  in  all  • 
ivsere  waiipd  on  U'feuror  live  men 


ia  liver/,     r*. 


A 


•^^-^ 


-*^ 


^^ 


Colonial  Holidays 


The  First  Christmas  Days  at  Plymouth 

Plymouth,  1620 

"The  25th  day  began  to  erect  the  first  house  for  common  use 
to  receive  them  and  their  goods". — Gov.  Bradford.  "Munday,  the 
25th  day,  we  went  on  shore,  some  to  fell  tymber,  some  to  saw,  some 
to  rive,  and  some  to  carry;  so  no  man  rested  all  that  day.  *  *  *  Mun- 
day  the  25th  being  Christmas  day,  we  began  to  drinke  water  aboord, 
but  at  night  the  master  caused  vs  to  have  some  Beere". — cMourt. 

Plymouth,  1621 

I  shall  remember  one  passage  more,  rather  of  mirth  than  of 
waight.  One  the  day  called  Chrismasday,  the  Govr  caled  them  out  to 
worke,  (as  was  used,)  but  the  most  of  this  new-company  excused 
them  selves  and  said  it  wente  against  their  consciences  to  work  on 
that  day.  So  the  Govr  tould  them  that  if  they  made  it  a  mater  of 
conscience,  he  would  spare  them  till  they  were  better  informed* 
So  he  led-away  the  rest  and  left  them;  but  when  they  came  home 
at  noone  from  their  worke,  he  found  them  in  the  streete  at  play, 
openly;  some  pitching  the  barr  and  some  at  stoole-ball,  and  shuch 
like  sports.  So  he  went  to  them,  and  tooke  away  their  implements, 
and  tould  them  that  was  against  his  conscience,  that  they  should 
play  and  others  worke.  If  they  made  the  keeping  of  it  mater  of 
devotion,  let  them  kepe  their  houses,  but  ther  should  be  no  gameing 
or  revelling  in  the  streets.  Since  which  time  nothing  hath  been 
attempted  that  way,  at  least  openly*  Got.  Bradford. 


An  Early  Account  of  a  Virginia  Christmas  with  an  Expedition 

of  Capt.  John  Smith 

"The  extreame  winde,  rayne,  frost  and  snow  caused  us  to  kcepe 
Christmas  among  the  salvages  where  we  were  never  more  merry, 
nor  fed  on  more  plenty  of  good  Oysters,  Fish,  Flesh,  Wilde  fowl 
and  good  bread,  nor  never  had  better  fires  in  England* 


,  ___       )aptainJ6hnomith  w^i 

extreame  winde.  rayne.  frost  • 
and  snow  caused  us  to  keepe 
Christmas  among  the  salvages  where 
we  were  never  more  merry,  nor  ted  2^8H»^\ 
on  more  plenty  • of  good  Oysters,  Fisk  j 
Flesh,  Wilde  fowl  and  good  breacL  1 
nor  never  had  better  fires  in  England?* 

— •»_        ~^w        '~vs—       ~>»_      "N^     />>  sr~"> 


ours  heare  in  England  as  therdaunsinge, 
which  is  like  our  darbysher  Hornepipe 
a  man  first  and  then  a  woman,  and 
so  through  them  all,  hanging  all  in 
a  roundT  ther  is  one  which  stand  in 
the  midest  with  a  pipe  and  a  ratteli 
with  which  when  he   Leginns    to 
make    a  noyes  all  the  rest  Gigetts 
about  wrii'nge  ther    neckes    and 
slajjipinge  on  y*  drouiidL'SiL  ""V   ^. 
^1    /jhejk   vse  beside  football      play* 
IxM  which  wemenand  young  boyes 
doe  much  play  at. The  menneuer.They 
tnake  ther  Gooles   as  ours  onlymey 
neuer  fight  nor  pull  one  another  downe 
:T  he  men  play  with  a  litlc  balle  lettingie  it  v     g\^^ 
Ifyi  out  of  ther  hand  and  striketh  it  j 
with  the  tope  of  his  foot,and  he  that  can 
strike  the  ball  furthest  winns  what 
they  play  for'.' 


Pastimes  in  Virginia  in  1609-10 

When  they  meet  at  feats  or  otherwise  they  vse  sprots  much 
like  ours  heare  in  England  as  ther  daunsinge,  which  is  like  oar 
darbysher  Hornepipe  a  man  first  and  then  a  woman,  and  so  through 
them  all,  hanging  all  in  a  round,  ther  is  one  which  stand  in  the 
midest  with  a  pipe  and  a  rattell  with  which  when  he  beginns  to 
make  a  noyes  all  the  rest  Gigetts  about  wriinge  ther  neckes  and 
stampinge  on  ye  ground* 

They  vse  beside  football  play,  which  wemen  and  young  boyes 
doe  much  play  at*  The  men  neuer.  They  make  ther  Gooles  as 
ours  only  they  neuer  fight  nor  pull  one  another  downe*  The  men 
play  with  a  little  balle  lettinge  it  fall  out  of  ther  hand  and  striketh 
it  with  the  tope  of  his  foot,  and  he  that  can  strike  the  ball  furthest 

winns  what  they  play  for* 

Henry  Spelman,  1613.   (?) 


Old  New  Amsterdam  Records 

"Dec,  J4,  J654.  As  the  winter  and  the  holidays  are  at  hand, 
there  shall  be  no  more  ordinary  meetings  of  this  board  (the  city 
corporation)  between  this  date  and  three  weeks  after  Christmas. 
The  court  messenger  is  ordered  not  to  summon  any  one  in  the 
meantime/' 


Christmas  in  Boston,  1685,  1697,  and  1722 

(From  the  Diary  of  Samuel  Sewalt) 
Boston 

Dec*  25,  1685.  Carts  come  to  town  and  shops  open  as  usual* 
Some  somehow  observe  the  day,  but  are  vexed.  I  believe  that  the 
Body  of  people  profane  it,  and  blessed  be  God  no  authority  yet  to 
compel  them  to  keep  it* 

Dec.  28 — Cous.  Fissenden  here,  Saith  he  came  for  Skins  last 
Friday,  and  was  less  Christmas-keeping  than  last  year,  fewer  Shops 
Shut  up* 

Seventh-day,  Decembr  25 — J697*  Snowy  day:  Shops  are  open 
and  sleds  come  to  Town  with  Wood  and  Fagots  as  formerly,  save 
what  abatement  may  be  allowed  on  account  of  the  wether.  This 
morning  we  read  in  coarse  the  J4,  J5,  and  16th  Psalms.  From  the 
4th  V.  of  the  J6th  Ps — I  took  occasion  to  dehort  mine  from  Christmas- 
keeping,  and  charged  them  to  forbear.  *  *  Joseph  tells  me  that 
though  most  of  the  Boys  went  to  the  Church  yet  he  went  not. 

Decr  19 — J722 — His  Excellency  took  me  aside  to  Southeast 
Window  of  the  Council  Chamber,  to  speak  to  me  about  adjourning 
the  Gen1  Court  to  Monday  next  because  of  Christmas.  I  told  his 
Excellency  I  would  consider  of  it. 

Decr  20 — I  invited  Dr.  Mather  to  Dine  with  me,  not  knowing 
that  he  preach'd.  After  Diner  I  consulted  with  him  about  the 
Adjournment  of  the  Court.  We  agreed,  that  'twould  be  expedient 
to  take  a  vote  of  the  Council  and  Representatives  for  it* 

Friday,  Decr  21*  P.  M.     The  Govr  took  me  to  the  window  again 

looking  Eastward,  next  Mrs*  Phillips's  and  spake  to  me  again  about 

5 


6  COLONIAL  HOLIDAYS 

adjourning  the  Court  next  Wednesday*  I  spake  against  it;  and 
propounded  that  the  Govr  would  take  a  Vote  for  it;  that  he  would 
hold  the  Balance  even  between  the  Church  and  us.  His  Excellency 
went  to  the  Board  again,  and  said  much  for  this  adjourning;  All 
kept  Christmas  but  we;  I  suggested  K*  James  the  First  to  Mr*  Dudley, 
how  he  boasted  what  a  pure  church  he  had;  and  they  did  not  keep 
Yule  nor  Pasch*  Mr*  Dudley  ask'd  if  the  Scots  kept  Christmas, 
His  Excellency  protested  he  believ'd  they  did  not,  Govr  said  they 
adjourned  for  the  Commencement  and  Artillery.  But  then  tis  by 
Agreement.  Col.  Taylor  spake  so  loud  and  boisterously  for  Adjourn- 
ing, that  'twas  hard  for  any  to  put  in  a  word;  Col*  Townsend  seconded 
me,  and  Col.  Partridge;  because  this  would  prolong  the  Sessions. 
Mr*  Davenport  stood  up  and  gave  it  as  his  opinion,  that  'twould 
not  be  Convenient  for  the  Govr  to  be  present  in  Court  that  day; 
and  therefore  was  for  Adjourning*  But  the  Govr  is  often  absent; 
and  yet  the  Council  and  Representatives  go  on*  Now  the  Govr  has 
told  us,  that  he  would  go  away  for  a  week;  and  then  return'd,  and 
if  he  liked  what  we  had  done,  He  would  Consent  to  it*  Govr  men- 
tioned how  it  would  appear  to  have  Votes  passed  on  Decr  25*  But 
his  Excellency  need  not  have  been  present  nor  sign'd  any  Bill  that 
day,  I  said  the  Dissenters  came  a  great  way  for  their  Liberties 
and  now  the  Church  had  theirs,  yet  they  could  not  be  contented, 
except  they  might  tread  all  others  down*  Govr  said  he  was  of  the 
Church  of  England*  I  told  Mr*  Belcher  of  his  "Letter  to  me*  He 
answer'd,  He  thought  he  had  been  a  Dissenter  then.  Govr  hinted 
that  he  must  be  free  on  Monday  because  of  the  Communion  the 
next  day* 

Satterday  Decf  22 — about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  before  12.  the 
Govr  adjourned  the  Court  to  Wednesday  morn  JO.  a-clock,  and  sent 
Mr*  Secretary  into  the  House  of  Deputies  to  do  it  there.. 


tme  at 
s  in  the  day 
usiness  at 
Morrisana 


December  my(Jranclmother  dyed; in y* 
holiday*  the  cocks  fought;  you  ng  assembly 
mDroadway;man>  entertainments  by  (he 
parents  of  the  young  ladies,  I  think  same 
the  winter  before.  Mrs. Baker  VFIntosruG 
"reton  officeryriarrbon;1welfth  Cakes 
~me  time  the  bepiruiing  of  the  winter  (1745) 
uchfrolicking  this  winter; at  first  not 
^acquainted  with  any  of  the  officers; 
avid  Johnston  intimate;  introduced  to 
'era;  got  intimate  withRob  and  Tyr 
>ards;  diversions;  more  lime 
withLadies;  few  frolicks 
mmes;  *our  jaunt 
aniainaslay;  dined 
J. Bass's  with  L^dic 
youncrA 


t! 


tit 


Twelfth  -  Cake 


CHRISTMAS  IN  BOSTON,  J685,  1697,  AND  1722         7 

Tues,  Decr  25,  I  chose  to  stay  at  home  and  not  go  to  the 
Roxbttry  Lecture,  Visited  my  old  friend  and  Carpenter,  Peter 
"Weare,  and  found  him  gon  to  h — (eaven!)*  The  Shops  were  open, 
and  Carts  came  to  Town  with  Wood,  Hoop-poles,  Hay  &c,  as  at 
other  Times:  Being  a  pleasant  day,  the  street  was  filled  with  Carts 
and  Horses. 


Holiday  Time  in  New  York,  1745  and  1747 

"Came  to  New  York  where  I  spent  the  winter;  lodged  at  Mrs 
Vangelder's;  spent  chief  of  my  time  at  Mr,  Alexander's  in  the  day; 
law  and  business  at  night;  continued  as  we  had  done  the  winter 
before  at  mathematics  with  his  son*  At  Morrisania  with  J,  Depey- 
ster;  in  December  my  Grandmother  dyed;  in  ye  holidays  the  cock's 
fought*  Young  assembly  in  Broadway;  many  entertainments  by  the 
parents  of  the  young  ladies,  I  think  same  the  winter  before*  Mrs 
Baker  Mclntosh,  C*  Breton  officers,  Harrison;  Twelfth  Cakes  some 
time  the  beginning  of  the  winter*  (1745) 

Much  frolicking  this  winter;  at  first  not  acquainted  with  any 
of  the  officers;  David  Johnston  intimate;  introduced  to  *em;  got 
intimate  with  Rob  and  Tyr  *  *  Cards;  diversions;  more  time  spent 
with  Ladies;  few  frolicks  at  their  homes;  *  *  frolick  at  Mrs  John- 
stons; *  *  our  jaunt  to  Morrisania  in  a  slay;  dined  at  J»  Bass's  with 
Ladies;  young  Assembly;  asked  also  to  the  Old"  (1747) 

Diary  of  Elisha  Parker. 


Thanksgiving  the  Puritan  Substitute  for  Christmas 

Boston  Novembr  1st  J750.  This  Being  a  General  Thanks- 
giveing  day,  was  Strictly  Observed  heere  and  more  so  by  the  Pres- 
byterians, its  Calld  their  Christmas,  and  is  the  Greatest  Holyday 
they  have  in  the  Year  and  is  Observed  more  Strict  than  Sunday. 
Went  to  Meeting  with  Capt.  Wendell  and  Family  and  where  Dynd 
with  a  Large  Compv  Gentn  and  Ladies  and  where  very  Merry  had 
a  Good  deal  Chat  and  Spent  the  Evening  at  Mr*  Jacob  Wendells 
with  a  Large  Company  Sup'd  Drank  a  Number  Bumpers  and  Sung 

Our  Songs  &c  till  morn'g. 

Journal  of  Capt.  Francis  Goelet. 


The  Christinas  Holidays  of  a  Puritan  Girl 

(Being  extracts  from  the  diary  of  Anna  Green  Winsiow) 

Boston,    Dec.   14th,   1771. 

The  weather  and  walking  have  been  very  winter  like  since  the 
above  hotch-potch,  pothooks  &  trammels*  I  went  to  Mrs*  Whitwelis 
last  wednessday, — you  taught  me  to  spell  the  4  day  of  the  week, 
but  my  atmt  says  that  it  should  be  spelt  Wednesday*  My  aunt  also 
says,  that  till  I  come  out  of  an  agregious  fit  of  laughterre  that  is  apt 
to  seize  me  &  the  violence  of  which  I  am  at  this  present  under, 
neither  English  sense,  nor  anything  rational  may  be  expected  of 
me.  I  went  to  say,  that,  I  went  to  Mrs  Whitwells  to  see  Mad'm 
Storer's  funeral,  the  walking  was  very  bad  except  on  the  sides  of 
the  street  which  was  the  reason  I  did  not  make  a  part  of  the  pro- 
cession* I  should  have  dined  with  Mrs  Whitwell  on  thursday  if  a 
grand  storm  had  not  prevented*  As  she  invited  me.  I  saw  Miss 
Caty  Vans  at  lecture  last  evening* 

Dec*r  24th — Elder  Whitwell  told  my  aunt,  that  this  winter 
began  as  did  the  winter  of  1740*  How  that  was  I  don't  remember 
but  this  I  know,  that  today  is  by  far  the  coldest  we  have  had  since 
I  have  been  in  New  England.  (N.  B.  All  run  that  are  abroad) 

Last  sabbath  being  rainy  I  went  to  and  from  meeting  in  Mr. 
Soley's  chaise*  I  dined  at  unkle  Winslow's,  the  walking  being  so 
bad  I  rode  there  &  back  to  meeting*  Every  drop  that  fell  froze, 
so  that  from  yesterday  morning  to  this  time  the  appearance  has 
been  similar  to  the  description  I  sent  you  last  winter*  The  walking 

is  so  slippery  and  the  air  so  cold,  that  aunt  chuses  to  have  me  for 

JO 


rf»c  above 
pot  hook 


t  day  o/'fire  urrh.uul  my 
mini  nmthpt  it  iliou 
be.fpeR  H'fdi 
aunl  eJ>o  MV 

Icome  out  o . 

aujj'hterre thai  it  apt  ko  /ieze  m«>  &  ilu;  \i 
^om  -dt  mi5  present  under,! 

:nse,nor  anyiKmrf  rational  mm-  br  .;iin-< -i»-u  in  HR-. A 
it  to  .raKfhattweni  to tffr.Wlihwdlk ^fo j 

funeral  •  •  ?*.      ?-^      %>i^        ?^.      ^^ 

\\wvc.    Kfvn 
mcel have  been  ial?ew«n£rtand. (M,flll  run 

abroad)  •the  wal 

so  eow  liW  mint  c}iuse»  to  have  me  c'orticr  seoDerJirji 
two  da>;r.flnd  ai  toniorr<>*-  is  a  holiday  .sxj  lt»c ,.       „ 
hi*  ajr.«o^nl«-|Kftye  ordain«»d,ru>  tvunl  tbinkj  i\ol    i<> 
trouble jflPlr.f.|Srnitli  jvirti  m<-  lljh  Vcck.  .lir^mi  »>  >l til' 


twrn  pixtti  d^  ^rk.ivurii  vavf  (O. 
been  lhi<  neck    vluvJl  tt-||  rou  b 


. 

ke  ij  confined  b-  «  cohu.  ll*i-  Henllirr.ytiD  so  jn->i- 
cannut  ^it  lt»rthrr,Ioau  lo  vjvil  her  ttifain  oeaxe 
eonMiD  witb  her.  or  teAf  ffle  w  illi  ie  upot)  H  |KTlk 


. 

uW  matter  which  .>mi  »b-All  kniw  inhiplm-i-  J} 
strnrujfcb/  iiidustrioiis  Iv.vu-  li<>iMkil^i'.v«>t;kX>*illiiiJ 
jou  H  itFi  ruy  own  hand  at  n?^ent  amu  so  dilit'iii 


*  tun  oUiottl  to  us*  riw-  Kaiul  L  pe.n  qfmvold  tnencLvvno 
near  b»  Ls  better  fhan  n  brother  far  off',   dont  £ortfit 


majunia.uoril  roist«sc  rne 

pjacl  mjjromer  made  an 


letter.  Imust  flpi  biin  in  read 
|  ttiome.whenTie  come 
*  two  reasoncme  one  is  because 
c«  Imay  have  /he  peMlBe  rf 
S  iref  Fas  voice, Hie  i 
*l  ItKHitundeniand  hi 
:  ters.  lofeverve  ^si  l^e  u  marn.- 

r<^r 

eranj?alit 
heevenjiu)"  at 

ni  IV.  tVloJ'k  last  (Hoi  kda>,  ha>e 
liWe ewa^dw  tliisM'eekd.HToie  eveiy oq»; , 
nv:  \- 177*  ^vvisFv  ny ®apa.(HRina,hrOT»<'ri  << 

mt  rest  of  uw_ acqiiainiiutce  alburn: 
vficlti.  "ree.nktnd;..'  jnlwrrt  Lt. 


wme  ope  Ai,me 
i  nkfSuih  Lr  k 


done>crrnam.i 
•jabbpeviattl.Ii 

afternoon  beintfa  oalkW  1 1«  u  pjoiiitf  to  ptgr  my  com- 
injBudhuir  5iree£. 

r      Xwai 


w  pompeaoiv  .nwei.me  eapiw  aunij     _____ 
snce,  prwentecl  n>e  Himllxuc  ribbons  on  it  C  »v 


OU.  aunt  jfrorer  jj 
unt  B)emin|f  said 
.   Il  roak^ 


to  Fir  made  i <  M 
hoi  to  be  mfvoe  at 
L  etch  L  burn  like 
t ttiiu HI .<  roll  i <  not  made 


THE  CHRISTMAS  HOLIDAYS  OF  A  PURITAN  GIRL    \\ 

her  scoflcr  these  two  days.  And  as  tomorrow  will  be  a  holiday,  so 
the  pope  and  his  associates  have  ordained,  my  atmt  thinks  not  to 
trouble  Mrs  Smith  with  me  this  week.  I  began  a  shift  at  home 
yesterday  for  myself,  it  is  pretty  forward.  I  forgot  whether  I 
mentioned  the  recept  of  Nancy's  present.  I  am  obliged  to  her 
for  it*  The  Dolphin  is  still  whole.  And  like  to  remain  so* 

Dec.r  27th — This  day,  the  extremity  of  the  cold  is  somewhat 
abated.  I  keept  Christmas  at  home  this  year,  &  did  a  very  good 
day's  work,  aunt  says  so.  How  notable  I  have  been  this  week  I 
shall  tell  you  by  &  by.  I  spent  most  of  Tuesday  evening  with  my 
favorite,  Miss  Soley,  as  she  is  confined  by  a  cold,  the  weather  still 
so  severe  thai  I  cannot  git  farther,  I  am  to  visit  her  again  before 
I  sleep,  &  consult  with  her,  (or  rather  she  with  me)  upon  a  perticular 
matter  which  you  shall  know  in  its  place*  How  strangely  indus- 
trious I  have  been  this  week,  I  will  inform  you  with  my  own  hand — 
at  present,  I  am  so  diligent  that  I  am  obliged  to  use  the  hand  & 
pen  of  my  old  friend,  who  being  near  by  is  better  than  a  brother 
far  off.  I  don't  forgit  dear  little  John  Henry  so  pray  mamma, 
don't  mistake  me. 

I  am  glad  my  brother  made  an  essay  for  a  Post  Script  to  your 
"Letter.  I  must  get  him  to  read  it  to  me,  when  he  comes  up,  for 
two  reasons,  the  one  is  because  I  may  have  the  pleasure  of  hearing 
his  voice,  the  other  because  I  don't  understand  his  carachters*  I 
observe  that  he  is  mamma's  "Duckey  Darling." 

Dec'r  28th — Last  evening  a  little  after  5  oclock  I  finished  my 
shift,  I  spent  the  evening  at  Mr.  Soley's.  I  began  my  shift  at 
12  o'clock  last  Monday,  have  read  my  Bible  every  day  this  week 
and  wrote  every  day  save  one. 


\2  COLONIAL  HOLIDAYS 

fst,  Jan.y  1772 — I  wish  my  papa.  Mama,  brother  John  Henry, 
&  Cousin  Avery  &  all  the  rest  of  my  acquaintance  at  Cumberland, 
Fortlaurence,  Barrowsfield,  Greenland,  Amherst  &  c,  a  Happy  New 
Year,  I  have  bestow'd  no  new  year's  gift,  as  yet.  But  have  received 
one  very  handsome  one,  viz,  the  History  of  Joseph  Andrews  abbre- 
viated* In  nice  Guilt  and  flowers  covers.  This  afternoon  being  a 
holiday  I  am  going  to  pay  my  compliments  in  Sudbury  Street, 

Jan,y  4th  J772 — I  was  drssed  in  my  yellow  coat,  my  black  bib 
&  apron,  my  pompedore  shoes,  the  cap  my  aunt  Storer  sometime 
since  presented  me  with — (blue  ribbons  on  it)  &  a  very  handsome 
loket  in  the  shape  of  a  hart  she  gave  me — the  past  pin  my  Hon'd 
Papa  presented  me  with  in  my  cap,  my  new  cloak  &  bonnet  on,  my 
pompedore  gloves  &c,  &c.  And  I  would  tell  you  that  for  the  first 
time,  they  all  liked  my  dress  very  much.  My  cloak  and  bonnett 
are  really  very  handsome,  &  so  they  had  need  be.  For  they  cost 
an  amasing  sight  of  money,  not  quite  £45  thof  Aunt  Suky  said,  that 
she  supposed  Aunt  Deming  would  be  frighted  out  of  her  wits  at  the 
money  it  cost,  I  have  got  one  covering,  by  the  cost,  that  is  genteel 
&  I  like  it  much  myself,  *  *  *  *,  I  had  my  HEDDUS  roll  on,  aunt 
Storer  said  it  ought  to  be  made  less,  Aunt  Deming  said  it  ought 
not  to  be  made  at  all.  It  makes  my  head  itch  &  ach  &  burn  like 
anything  Mamma,  This  famous  rofl  is  not  made  wholly  of  a  red 
Cow  Tail  but  is  a  mixture  of  that  &  horsehair  (very  course)  &  a 
little  human  hair  of  yellow  hue,  that  I  suppose  was  taken  out  of  the 
back  part  of  an  old  wig.  But  D —  made  it  (our  head)  all  carded 
together  and  twisted  up.  When  it  first  came  home,  Aunt  put  it  on 
&  my  new  cap  on  it,  and  she  took  up  her  apron  and  mesur'd  me, 
&  from  the  roots  of  my  hair  on  my  forehead  to  the  top  of  my  notions 
I  measured  above  an  inch  longer  than  I  did  downwards  from  the 


THE  CHRISTMAS  HOLIDAYS  OF  A  PURITAN  GIRL    13 

roots  of  my  hair  to  the  end  of  my  chin*  Nothing  renders  a  young 
person  more  amiable  than  virtue  &  modesty  without  the  help  of 
fals  hair,  red  Cow  Tail  or  D —  (the  barber.)  Now  all  this  mamma, 
I  have  just  been  reading  over  to  my  Aunt.  *****  She  hopes  a 
little  fals  English  will  not  spoil  the  whole  with  Mamma*  Rome 
was  not  build  in  a  day*  *********  My  grandmamma  sent 
Miss  Deming,  Miss  Winslow  &  I  one  eight  of  a  Dollar  a  piece  for  a 

New  Years  gift. 

I  am  Hon,d  Papa  &  Mama 

Yr.  ever  Dutiful  Daughter, 

Anne  Green  Winslow 


Contemporary  Account,  New  York,  1773 

"Last  Monday  the  anniversary  of  St.  Nicholas,  otherwise  called 
Santa  Glaus,  was  celebrated  at  Protestant  Hall,  at  Mr*  L,  Waldron's 
where  a  great  number  of  the  sons  of  that  ancient  saint  celebrated 
the  day  with  great  joy  and  festivity. 


Christmas  Fairy-tales 


A  Notable  Christmas  with  Washington 

(In  camp  above  Trenton  Falls,  Dec*  23,  (776) 

"Christmas  day  at  night,  one  hour  before  day,  is  the  time 
fixed  for  oar  attempt  on  Trenton*  For  Heaven's  sake  keep  this  to 
yourself ,  as  the  discovery  of  it  may  prove  fatal  to  us/'  Washington 
to  CoL  Codwalader*  On  Christmas  night  Washington  crossed  the 
Delaware,  surprising  the  Hessians  in  Trenton  on  the  morning  of  the 
26th,  and  capturing  nearly  a  thousand  prisoners  with  their  arms* 
On  Friday,  Dec*  27  he  sent  the  following  message  to  the  President 
of  Congress: 

"I  have  the  pleasure  of  congratulating  you  upon  the  success 
of  an  enterprise,  which  I  had  formed  against  a  detachment  of  the 
enemy  lying  in  Trenton,  and  which  was  executed  yesterday  morning" 


J5 


A  Quiet  Christmas  with  Washington  in  New  York 

Friday,  Dec  25th — Christmas  Day,    Went  to  St,  Pauls  Chapel 
in  the  forenoon.    The  visitors  to  Mrs,  Washington  this  afternoon 

were  not  numerous,  but  respectable. 

-    Washington's  Diary. 


A  Christmas  Eve  Dinner  with  George  and  Martha  Washington 

(Being  a.  letter  from  Theophilus  Bradbury  to  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Hooper) 

Philadelphia,  Sat.  Dec.  26 — 1795. 

Last  Thursday  I  had  the  honor  of  dining  with  the  President  in 
company  with  the  Vice  President,  the  Senators,  the  Delegates  of 
Massachusetts,  and  some  other  members  of  Congress,  about  20,  in  all. 

In  the  middle  of  the  table  was  placed  a  piece  of  table  furniture 
about  six  feet  long  and  two  feet  wide,  rounded  at  the  ends*  It 
was  either  of  wood  gilded,  or  polished  metal,  raised  about  an  inch 
with  a  silver  rim  round  it  like  that  round  a  tea  board;  in  the  centre 
was  a  pedestal  of  plaster  of  Paris  with  images  upon  it,  and  on  each 
end  figures,  male  and  female,  of  the  same*  It  was  very  elegant  and 
used  for  ornament  only.  The  dishes  were  placed  all  around,  and 
there  was  an  elegant  variety  of  roast  beef,  veal,  turkeys,  ducks, 
fowls,  hams,  etc.;  puddings,  jellies,  oranges,  apples,  nuts,  almonds, 
figs,  raisins,  and  a  variety  of  wines  and  punch. 

We  took  our  leave  at  six,  more  than  an  hour  after  the  candles 
were  introduced.  No  lady  but  Mrs.  Washington  dined  with  us. 
We  were  waited  on  by  four  or  five  men  servants  dressed  in  livery. 


17 


Christmas  with  Washington  at  Mt.  Vernon 

The  wife  of  Judge  Gushing  writes  in  February,  J799: — 

"We  reached  Mount  Vernon  the  evening  before  Christmas,  and 
if  anything  could  have  added  to  our  enjoyment,  it  was  the  arrival 
of  General  and  Mrs  Pinckney  the  next  day,  while  we  were  dining* 
You  may  be  sure  it  was  a  joyful  meeting,  and  at  the  very  place  my 
wishes  had  pointed  out*  To  be  in  the  company  of  so  many  esteemed 
friends,  to  hear  our  good  General  Washington  converse  upon  political 
subjects  without  reserve,  and  to  hear  General  and  Mrs  Pinckney 
relate  what  they  saw  and  heard  in  France,  was  truly  a  feast  to  me. 
Thus  the  moments  glided  away  for  two  days,  when  our  reason 
pointed  out  the  propriety  of  our  departing  and  improving  the  good 
roads,  as  the  snow  and  frost  had  made  them  better  than  they  are 
in  summer. 


ihri 


**M^.  jdlR. 

THta 

hilaaclphi  a.  LJec&itf 
vudolpks  the  follow 
ing  0"entlemen.$amuel  MileA 
Lev!  Ho  lingsworth,  Israel 
Morr  is,  Joseph  Jones,- went 
i  to  Lower!  micum  fox  hunt ' 
inaThere  we  were  met  by 

uj      Charles,  Richard  and  James 

i  /VVilling  and  after  riding 

1  about  the  woods  until  two 
o'clock.without  the  sign  or 
atoxAve  returned  to  Joseph  Rudolphs  &>  dined. 
ec.wjyS}  -  My  son  Tnomas  came  liome 
I,,,  I,  i  i f n  spend  Christmas  with  us.  In  the 
afternoon  took  a  ride  •  and  stopped  atTnos. 
r  ~^kinsons  to  see  his  colts. '  ^^   ~^ 
5ec.25.i786-Christmas  day  clear  and  cold 
JiForenoon  went  to  church  iri  Race  jt.. 

*  P  1  *  1  f — ^  1  TV  >f » fi^l  • 

lywite  and  i  dined  at  General  Mitt  I  m's 
with  his  family;  and  the  Hon.  Gerardus 
I  VVyrm>op,CaptN.Falkner  and  wife.  My 
I  sorAA^illiam  brought  Capt.  Falkner  and 

.  wife  to  the  Generab  in  a  sleigh  and  took 

i ,  i        i  .*— ^_      •— < 

iec.  25,178?-  Cnristmas.  Vye  three  went 

I  to  Reading  by  invitation  of  Gen.D. 

prodhead  and  dined  with  him.~^ 
There  were  nine  at  the  table:    Mr. 
C.Read.  Mr.Dundass.  Mr.D.  Clymer, 
Mr.Moore,  Gen. Miff lin, Captain  Faulk- 
ner and  myself.  '^.  ffacoo  njid^imer 


'A 


f~is( 


The  Christmas  Season  in  Philadelphia 

Dec.  26 — J767* — From  Rudolph's  the  following  gentlemen, 
Samuel  Miles,  Levi  Hoflingsworth,  Israel  Morris,  Joseph  Jones  *  * 
went  to  Lower  Tinicum  fox  hunting.  There  we  were  met  by  Charles, 
Richard,  and  James  Willing,  and  after  riding  about  the  woods  until 
two  o'clock,  without  the  sign  of  a  fox,  we  returned  to  Joseph 
Rudolph's  and  dined. 

Dec.  23 — f  785 — My  son  Thomas  came  home  to  spend  Christmas 
with  us.  In  the  afternoon  took  a  ride  to  William  Standley's  place 
at  Point  no  Point,  and  stopped  at  Thomas  Hopkinson's  to  see  his 
colts* 

Dec.  25 — J786 — Christmas  day,  clear  and  cold.  Forenoon  went 
to  church  in  Race  Street.  My  wife  and  I  dined  at  General  Mifflins 
with  his  family,  and  the  Hon.  Gerardus  Wynkoop,  Capt.  N.  Falkner 
and  wife.  My  son  William  brought  Capt.  Falkner  and  wife  to  the 
General's  in  a  sleigh  and  took  them  home. 

Dec.  25 — 1787 — Christmas.  We  three  went  to  Reading  by 
invitation  of  Gen.  D.  Brodhead  and  dined  with  him.  There  were 
nine  at  the  table:  Mr.  C.  Read,  Mr.  Dundass,  Mr.  D.  Clymer,  Mr* 
Moore,  Gen.  Mifflin,  Captain  Faulkner  and  myself. 

Diary  of  Jacob  Hiltzheimer. 

Member  of  State  Assembly 


J9 


Christmas  in  Salem,  1780-87 

Dec.  25,  f  780 — Christmas,  and  rainy*  Dined  at  Mr.  Wetmore's 
with  Mr*  Goodale  and  family,  John,  and  Patty.  Mr.  Barnard  and 
Prince  at  church;  the  music  good  and  Dr.  Steward's  voice  above  all. 

Dec*  25.  f  782 — A  very  fine,  clear  day.  The  church  very  much 
crowded  with  well  dressed  people.  Mr.  Fisher  movingly  addressed 
the  people  of  his  church  and  congregation  in  the  close  of  his  sermon, 
relating  to  their  conduct,  their  morals  and  proffession  as  Christians, 
exhorting  them  to  sobriety  and  decency  of  behaviour  on  the  solemn 
and  joyful  occasion*  In  the  evening  at  Mr.  Wetmore's  and  sup 
there;  a  large  company. 

Dec.  25,  J783, — Christmas  Day;  very  cold;  some  snow.  Mrs 
P.  and  I  dine  at  home  and  have  a  comfortable  Christmas  to  our- 
selves, having  sufficient  elbowroom  and  a  warm  fireside.  Jno*  and 
Mrs  Goodale's  family  dine  at  Mr*  Wetmore's* 

Dec*  25,  J784 — Cold  Christmas*  Mrs*  P*  ill,  and  I  confined  by 
a  cold,  we  dine  by  ourselves  at  a  good  warm  fire.  Mr*  &  Mrs  Curwen 
spend  the  evening  with  us*  *  * 

Dec.  25  1787 — Very  cold*  *  *  Mrs  Pynchon,  John  &  I  dine  at 
W»  Cabots  and  had  a  most  excellent  and  tasty  dinner  done  by  Miss 

Gerrish. 

Diary  of  William  Pynchon. 


20 


Christmas  at  Valley  Forge 

Dec.  2f — Mil — .  Preparation  made  for  htrtts.  Provision 
scarce*  Mr.  ETTrs  went  homeward — sent  a  Letter  to  my  Wife* 
Heartily  wish  myself  at  home — my  Skin  &  eyes  are  almost  spoiTd 
with  continual  smoke* 

A  general  cry  thro'  the  Camp  this  Evening  among  the  Soldiers — 
'No  Meat! — No  Meat!" — the  distant  vales  Ech'od  back  the  melan- 
cholly  sotmd — -"No  Meat!  No  Meat!"  Immitating  the  noise  of 
Crows  &  Owls,  also,  made  a  part  of  the  confused  Musick.  What 
have  you  for  our  Dinners  Boys?  "  Nothing  but  Fire  Cake  &  Water, 
Sir."  At  night — -"Gentlemen*  the  Supper  is  ready."  What  is  your 
Supper,  Lads?  "Fire  Cake  &  Water,  Sir", 

Dec*  22d* — Lay  excessive  Cold  &  uncomfortable  last  Night — 
my  eyes  are  started  from  their  Orbits  like  a  Rabbit's  eyes,  occationed 
by  a  great  Cold — and  Smoke* 

What  have  you  got  for  Breakfast,  Lads?  "Fire  Cake  &  Water, 
Sir"*  The  Lord  send  that  our  Commissary  of  Purchase  may  live 
on  Fire  Cake  &  Water  *  *  *  * 

Our  Division  are  under  Marching  Orders  this  morning.  I  am 
ashamed  to  say  it,  but  I  am  tempted  to  steal  Fowls  if  I  could  find 
them — or  even  a  whole  Hog — for  I  feel  as  if  I  could  eat  one.  But 
the  Impoverish'd  Country  about  us,  affords  but  little  matter  to 
employ  a  Thief — or  keep  a  Clever  Fellow  in  good  humour — But  why 
do  I  talk  of  hunger  &  hard  usage,  when  so  many  in  the  World  have 

not  even  fire  Cake  &  Water  to  eat  *  *  *  * 

21 


22  COLONIAL  HOLIDAYS 

Dec*  23d — The  Party  that  went  out  last  evening  not  Return'd 
to  Day*  This  evening  an  excellent  Player  on  the  Violin  in  that 
soft  kind  of  Mustek,  which  is  so  finely  adapted  to  stirr  up  the  tender 
Passions,  while  he  was  playing  in  the  next  tent  to  mine*  these  kind 
of  soft  Airs — it  immediately  called  up  in  remembrance  all  the  endear- 
ing expressions — the  Tender  Sentiments — the  sympathetic  friendship 
and  sensible  pleasure  to  me  from  the  first  time  I  gained  the  heart 
&  affections  of  the  tenderest  of  the  Fair  *  *  * 

Dec*  24th — Party  of  the  22d  returned*  Hutts  go  on  Slowly — 
Cold  &  Smoke  make  as  fret*  But  mankind  are  always  fretting, 
even  if  they  have  more  than  their  proportion  of  the  Blessings  of 
Life*  We  are  never  Easy — always  repining  at  the  Providence  of 
an  All-wise  &  Benevolent  Being — Blaming  Our  Country — or  faulting 
our  Friends.  But  I  don't  know  of  anything  that  vexes  a  man's 
Soul  more  than  hot  smoke  continually  blowing  into  his  Eyes — & 
when  he  attempts  to  avoid  it*  is  met  by  a  cold  and  piercing  Wind  *  *  * 

Dec*  25th,  Christmas. — We  are  still  in  Tents — when  we  ought 
to  be  in  huts — the  poor  Sick  suffer  much  in  Tents  this  cold  Weather — 
But  we  now  treat  them  differently  from  what  they  used  to  be  at 
home,  under  the  inspection  of  Old  Women  &  Doct.  Bolus  Tinctus. 
We  give  them  Mutton  &  Grogg — and  a  Capital  Medicine  once  in  a 
While — to  start  the  Disease  from  its  foundation  at  once*  We  avoid 
— Piddling  Pills*  Powders,  Bolus's  Tinctus's — Cordials,  and  all  such 
insignificant  matters  whose  powders  are  Only  render'd  important  by 
causing  the  Patient  to  vomit  up  his  money  instead  of  his  disease* 

But  very  few  of  the  sick  Men  Die* 

doctor  Albigence  Waldo. 

Surgeon  from  Connecticut. 


New  Year's  Day  in  Colonial  Times 

I  had  travelled  far  enough  in  the  day  to  hope  for  a  quiet  sleep, 
t  at  four  in  the  morning,  I  was  awakened  by  a  musquet  fired 
close  to  my  windows:  I  listened,  btrt  heard  not  the  smallest  noise, 
or  motion  in  the  street,  which  made  me  imagine  it  was  some  musquet 
discharged  of  itself  without  causing  any  accident*  I  again  attempted 
to  go  to  sleep,  but  a  quarter  of  a  hour  after  a  fresh  musquet  or 
pistol  shot  interrupted  my  repose;  this  was  followed  by  several 
others;  so  that  I  had  no  longer  any  doubt  that  it  was  some  rejoicing, 
or  feast,  like  our  village  christenings*  The  hour  indeed  struck  me 
as  rather  unusual,  but  at  length  a  number  of  voices  mingled  with 
musquettry,  crying  out,  new  year,  reminded  me  that  we  were  at 
the  first  of  January  and  concluded  that  it  was  thus  the  Americans 
celebrate  that  event*  Though  this  manner  of  proclaiming  it  was 
not,  I  must  own,  very  pleasing  to  me,  there  was  nothing  for  it  but 
patience;  but  at  the  end  of  half  an  hour,  I  heard  a  confused  noise 
of  upwards  of  a  hundred  persons,  chiefly  children  or  young  people, 
assembled  under  my  windows,  and  I  very  soon  had  farther  indica- 
tion of  their  proximity,  for  they  fired  several  musquet  shot,  knocked 
rudely  at  the  door,  and  threw  stones  against  my  windows*  Cold  and 
indolence  still  kept  me  in  bed,  but  Mr*  Lynch  got  up  and  came  into 
my  chamber  to  tell  me  that  these  people  certainly  meant  to  do  me 
honour,  and  get  some  money  from  me*  I  desired  him  to  step  down 
and  give  them  two  Louis;  he  found  them  already  masters  of  the 
house  and  drinking  my  landlord's  rum*  In  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 

they  went  off  to  visit  other  streets,  and  continued  their  noise  till 

23 


24  COLONIAL  HOLIDAYS 

day-light*  On  rising,  I  learnt  from  my  landlord,  that  it  was  the 
custom  of  the  country  for  the  yotmg  folks,  the  servants,  and  even 
the  negroes,  to  go  from  tavern  to  tavern,  and  to  other  houses,  to 
wish  a  good  new  year,  and  ask  for  a  drink,  so  that  there  was  no 
particular  compliment  to  me  in  this  affair,  and  I  found  that,  after 
the  example  of  the  Roman  Emperors,  I  had  made  a  largess  to  the 
people.  In  the  morning,  when  I  went  to  take  leave  of  General 
Clinton  I  met  nobody  but  drunken  people  in  the  streets,  but  what 
astonished  me  most  was  to  see  them  not  only  walk,  but  run  upon 
the  ice  without  falling  or  making  a  false  step,  whilst  it  was  with 
the  utmost  difficulty  I  kept  upon  my  legs* 

Marquis  de  Chastellux. 


New  Year's  Day,  1790 

"Friday  1st, — The  Vice  President ,  the  Governor,  the  Senators, 
Members  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  town,  foreign  public 
carachters,  and  all  the  respectable  citizens,  came  between  the  hours 
of  12  and  3  o'clock,  to  pay  the  compliments  of  the  season  to  me — 
and  in  the  afternoon  a  great  number  of  gentlemen  and  ladies  visited 

Mrs*  Washington  on  the  same  occasion* 

Washington's  Diary. 


25 


New  Year's  Day  in  Boston 

Jan*  1,  1723 

New  Year's  day,  before  Son-rise  being  tip,  I  hear  the  Guns  of 
the  Frigat,  and  Castle,  H  from  the  first,  21  from  the  Castle,  which 

is  the  Signal  of  the  Governor's  sailing* 

Samuel  Stftoall. 


26 


New  Year's  Day  in  Philadelphia 

Philadelphia,  Jan.  J.  1767 — Very,  very  cold*    Delaware  frozen 
over.    Three  steighloads  of  as  went  to  Darby  to  Joseph  Rudolph's* 

Diary  of  Jacob  Hiltzheimer. 


27 


A  Festive  New  Year's  in  Salem 

Jan.  J  J783  Wednesday*  Clear  and  very  cold*  A  concert  in 
the  evening  in  the  new  Assembly  Room;  a  dance  for  the  young 
gentry  at  Mrs  Pickman's*  Da  Sears  in  town,  called  on  me* 

2*  Thursday*  A  fine,  pleasant  morning*  Musick  at  the  Assem- 
bly Room:  2  fiddles,  F*,  horn,  and  drum*  These  and  the  Assembly 
engross  the  conversation  and  attention  of  the  yotmg  and  gay;  the 
elders  shake  their  heads  with,  What  are  we  coming  to?  *  *  A  private 
dance  preparatory  to  the  assembly* 

7*  Tuesday*  Cloudy  and  Cold  *  *  Fine  sledding;  the  street  is 
so  filled  with  sleds,  etc.,  of  wood  that  there  was  scarce  any  passing* 
A  dance  at  Bro*  Goodale's  in  the  evening, 

8*  Wednesday*  *  *  Grafton,  Jno*  and  Co*  go  to  a  dance  at 
Endicot's;  return  at  J2* 

9*  Thursday*    A  dance  at  Graf  ton's* 

Diaty  of  Wtlliam  Pynchon. 


28 


asion. 


Christ- 
mov- 
ie peo 
and 

I  congregation  •  relating 
to  their  conduct-  exhor? 
ing  them  to  sobriety  L 
decency  of  behaviour 
Ion  the  solemn  and  joy 
evening  atMr.Wet- 
jores  and  sup  mere.  A  large  company. 
irui783»Aconcert  in  the  evening  in  the  new 
i  Assemble  Room;  a  dance  for  (he  young 
itry  at  McsPie kmaris.  iThuraiav.wliuieK 

T"l  /«    1      i         T^*    1 

!  at  the  Assembly  Koom:  2  iiddlesJ' ..  horn  & 
I  drum.  These  and  the  assembly  engross 
i  the  conversation  and  attention  oF  the 
|  young  and  gay:  the  elders  shake  their 
j  "heads  withyv  hat  are  we  coming 

Aprivate  dancepreparatory tothf 
•uesdav.T-CTouoy  and  Col_ 

L^lFine  sledding;  the   .street   is   jo 
I  Med  with  sleds,  ^c^  of  wood  that  | 

there  was  scarce    any  oassing.  "^%-  I 

A  dance  at  Bro.  Gooaale*s  in  the  I 
!  eveninp;.  S.Wednesday  'Graftoai 
I  Jno.  and  Co.  go  to  a  dance  atEndi-  I 
!  cot's;  return  at  11  .^^.  r~>^  ">^  '*^.  I 
i  ^.Thursday:  A  dance  atGrj^ftortsr^^ I 
I  ""^  F  rom  the  B  iary  of  ^WmtPggcaort  | 


1 


St.  Valentine's  Day. — A  Curious  St.  Valentine's  Custom 

"Last  Friday  was  St.  Valentine's  Day,  and  the  night  before  I 
got  five  bay  leaves  and  pinned  four  on  the  corners  of  my  pillow, 
and  the  fifth  to  the  middle;  and  then  if  I  dreamt  of  my  sweetheart, 
Betty  said  we  should  be  married  before  the  year  was  out.  But  to 
make  it  more  sure  I  boiled  an  egg  hard  and  took  out  the  yolk  and 
filled  it  with  salt;  and  when  I  went  to  bed  ate  it  shell  and  all,  without 
speaking  or  drinking  after  it.  We  also  wrote  our  lovers'  names 
upon  bits  of  paper,  and  rolled  them  up  in  clay  and  put  them  into 
water;  and  the  first  that  rose  up  was  to  be  our  Valentine.  Would 
you  think  it?  Mr.  Blossom  was  my  man.  I  lay  abed  and  shut  my 
eyes  all  the  morning,  till  he  came  to  our  house,  for  I  would  not  have 
seen  another  man  before  him  for  all  the  world." 

The  Connoisseur,  of  1754. 


29 


Valentine's  Day,  1772 

My  cousin  Sally  reeled  of  f  a  JO  knot  skane  of  yarn  today*  My 
'valentine  was  an  old  country  plow  joger*  The  yarn  was  of  my 
spinning*  Aunt  says  it  will  do  for  filling*  Aunt  also  says  niece  is 

a  whimsical  child* 

cAnna  Green  Winsl(fto. 


30 


Madame  Pepys'  Valentine 

"This  morning  came  up  to  my  wife's  bedside  little  Will  Mercer 
to  be  her  valentine,  and  brought  her  name  written  upon  blue  paper 
in  gold  letters,  done  by  himself,  very  pretty;  and  we  were  both  well 
pleased  with  it*  But  I  am  also  this  year  my  wife's  valentine;  and 
it  will  cost  me  five  pounds;  but  that  I  must  have  laid  out  if  we  had 

not  been  valentines/' 

<Pepys'  Diary,  1667. 


3J 


Valentine's  Day 

Philadelphia,  Feb.  14,  1767 — At  noon  went  to  William  Jones's 
to  drink  punch,  met  several  of  my  friends,  and  got  decently  drunk. 

Jacob  Hiltzheimer. 


32 


Easter,  1688 

Satterday  Apr  J4*  Mr*  West  comes  to  Mr.  Wiflard  from  the 
Governour  to  speak  to  him  to  begin  at  8*  in  the  morn,  and  says  this 
shall  be  last  time;  they  will  build  a  house*  Soe  begin  about  J  hour 
past  8*  Yet  the  people  come  pretty  roundly  together*  *Twas 
Easter-day,  and  the  Lord's  Supper  with  us  too* 

Samuel  Sewatt. 

Boston 

April  J7th  J772—  *  *  The  befl  is  ringing  for  good  friday. 

(Anna,  Green  Winslow. 


33 


All  Fool's  Day 

'The  First  of  April,  some  do  say, 
Is  set  apart  for  all  Fool's  Day; 
But  why  the  people  call  it  so 
Nor  It  nor  they  themselves,  do  know"* 

<Poor  Robins'  cAlmanack,  1760. 

Boston,  April  J,  J772 — -"Will  you  be  offended  mamma,  if  I  ask 
you,  if  you  remember  the  flock  of  wild  Geese  that  papa  calf  d  you 
to  see  flying  over  the  Blacksmith's  shop  this  day  three  years?  I 
hope  not;  I  only  mean  to  divert  you.  The  snow  is  near  gone  in  the 
street  before  us,  &  mud  supplies  the  place  thereof;  after  a  week's 
absence,  I  this  day  attended  Master  Holbrook  with  some  difficulty, 
what  was  last  week  a  pond  is  to-day  a  quag,  thro*  which  I  got  safe 
however,  &  if  aunt  had  known  it  was  so  bad,  she  sais  she  would  not 
have  sent  me,  but  I  neither  wet  my  feet,  nor  drabled  my  clothes, 
indeed  I  have  but  one  garment  that  I  could  contrive  to  drabble* 

N*  B*    It  is  \  April* 

Anna  Green  WtnsloTto. 


34 


Gov.  Bradford's  Account  of  the  May  Day  Celebration  at 

Ma-re  Mount 

They  allso  set  up  a  May-pole,  drinking  and  dancing  aboute  it 
many  days  together,  inviting  the  Indean  women,  for  their  consorts, 
dancing  and  frisking  together,  (like  so  many  f aries,  or  furies  rather) 
and  worse  practices*  As  they  they  had  anew  revived  and  celebrated 
the  feasts  of  the  Roman  Goddes  Flora,  or  the  beasly  practieses  of 
the  Madd  Bacchinalians*  Morton  likewise,  (to  shew  his  poetrie) 
composed  sundry  rimes  and  verses,  some  tending  to  lasciviousnes, 
and  others  to  the  detraction  and  scandal!  of  some  persons,  which 
he  affixed  to  this  idle  or  idoll  May  polle*  They  chainged  allso  the 
name  of  their  place,  and  in  stead  of  calling  it  Mounte  Wollaston, 
they  call  it  Meriemotmte,  as  if  this  joylity  would  have  lasted  ever* 
But  this  continued  not  long,  for  after  Morton  was  sent  for  England, 
(as  follows  to  be  declared)  shortly  after  came  over  that  worthy 
gentleman,  Mr*  John  Indecott,  who  brought  over  a  patent  under 
the  broad  seall,  for  the  govermente  of  the  Massachusets,  who  visit- 
ing those  parts  caused  that  May-polle  to  be  cutte  downe,  and  rebuked 
them  for  their  profannes,  and  admonished  them  to  looke  ther 
should  be  better  walking;  so  they  now,  or  others,  changed  the  name 
of  their  place  againe,  and  called  it  Mounte-Dagon* 

William  ^Bradford,  1628. 


35 


May  Day  at  Ma-re  Mount,  1628 

The  Inhabitants  of  Pasonagessit  (having  translated  the  name 
of  their  habitation  from  that  ancient  Salvage  name  to  Ma-re  Mount; 
and  being  resolved  to  have  the  new  name  confirmed  for  a  memorial 
to  after  ages)  did  devise  amongst  themselves  to  have  it  performed 
in  a  solemne  manner  with  Revels,  &  merriment  after  the  old  English 
custome:  prepared  to  sett  up  a  Maypole  upon  the  festall  day  of 
Philip  and  Jacob;  &  therefore  brewed  a  barrell  of  excellent  beare, 
&  provided  a  case  of  bottles  to  be  spent,  with  other  good  cheare, 
for  all  commers  of  that  day.  And  because  they  would  have  it  in 
a  compleat  forme,  they  had  prepared  a  song  fitting  to  the  time 
and  present  occasion.  And  upon  May  Day  they  brought  the  May- 
pole to  the  place  appointed,  with  drumes,  gunnes,  pistols,  and 
other  fitting  instruments,  for  that  purpose;  and  there  erected  it 
with  the  help  of  Salvages,  that  came  thether  of  purpose  to  see  the 
manner  of  our  Revels,  A  goodly  pine  tree  of  80,  foote  long,  was 
reared  up  with  a  peare  of  buckshorns  nayled  one,  somewhat  neare 
unto  the  top  of  it:  there  it  stood  as  a  faire  sea  marke  for  directions; 
how  to  find  out  the  way  to  mine  Hoste  of  Ma-re  Mount, 

And  because  it  should  more  fully  appeare  to  what  end  it  was 
placed  there,  they  had  a  poem  in  readines  made,  which  was  fixed  to 
the  Maypole,  to  shew  the  new  name  confirmed  upon  that  plantation, 
which  although  it  were  made  according  to  the  occurrents  of  the 
time,  it  being  Enigmatically  composed  pusselled  the  Seperatists 
most  pittifully  to  expound  it, 

The  setting  up  of  this  Maypole  was  a  lamentable  spectacle  to 

36 


of  t£e 


MAY  DAY  AT  MA-RE  MOUNT,  1628  37 

the  precise  seperatists:  that  lived  at  new  Plimmouth,  They  termed 
it  an  Idoli;  yea  they  called  it  the  Calfe  of  Horeb:  and  stood  at  de- 
fiance with  the  pla.cef  naming  it  Mount  Dagon;  threatning  to  make 
it  a  woefull  mount  and  not  a  merry  mount  * 

There  was  likewise  a  merry  songe  made,  which  (to  make  their 
Revels  more  fashionable)  was  sung  with  a  Corns,  every  man  bearing 
his  part?  which  they  performed  in  a  daunce,  hand  in  hand  abotrt 
the  Maypole,  whiles  one  of  the  Company  sung,  and  filled  out  the 
good  liquor  like  gammedes  and  lupiter* 

The  Songe 

Drinke  and  be  merry,  merry*  merry  boyes, 
Let  all  your  delight  be  in  Hymen's  ioyes, 
lo  to  Hymen  now  the  day  is  come, 
About  the  merry  Maypole  take  a  Roome* 

Make  greene  garlons,  bring  bottles  out; 
And  fill  sweet  Nectar,  freely  about, 
Vncover  thy  head,  and  feare  no  harme, 
For  hers  good  liquor  to  keepe  it  warme. 

Then  drinke  and  be  merry,  &c 
lo  to  Hymen,  &c 

Nectar  is  a  thing  assign'd 

By  the  Deities  owne  minde, 

To  cure  the  hart  opprest  with  greife, 

And  of  good  liquors  is  the  cheife, 

Then  drinke,  &c» 


38  COLONIAL  HOLIDAYS 

Give  to  the  Mellancofly  man, 
A  cup  or  two  oft  now  and  than; 
This  physick'  will  soone  revive  his  blond, 
And  make  him  be  of  a  merrier  moode. 

Then  drinke,  &c 

Give  to  the  Nymphe  thats  free  from  scorne, 
No  Irish  sttrff  nor  Scotch  over  worne, 
Lasses  in  beaver  coats  come  away, 
Yee  shall  be  welcome  to  us  night  and  day* 

To  drinke  and  be  merry  &c» 

This  harmless  mirth  made  by  yotmge  men  (that  lived  in  hope 
to  have  wives  brought  over  to  them,  that  would  save  them  a  laboure 
to  make  a  voyage  to  fetch  any  over)  was  much  distasted,  of  the 
precise  Seperatists;  that  keepe  much  a  doe,  about  the  tyth  of  Muit 
and  Cummin;  troubling  their  braines  more  than  reason  would 
require  about  things  that  are  different  and  from  that  time  sought 
occasion  against  my  honest  Host  of  Ma*re  Mount  to  overthrow  his 
ondertakings,  and  to  destroy  his  plantation  quite  and  cleane"  *  * 

Thomas  cMorton. 


An  Amusing  May  Day  Incident 

Mrs.  Alice  Morse  Earle  in  her  excellent  book.  Stage  Coach  and 
Tavern  Dayst  gives  an  account  of  a  bit  of  rather  un-puritanical 
merry-making  on  the  part  of  Jacob  Marline  and  Sarah  Ttrttle  in 
Hartford  on  May  Day,  J660.  In  spite  of  a  very  stringent  law 
prohibiting  any  love  making  without  consent  of  parents,  Jacob 
seized  Sarah's  gloves  and  demanded  a  kiss  as  a  forfeit*  "Whereupon 
they  sat  down  together,  his  arm  being  about  her,  and  her  arm  upon 
his  shoulder  or  about  his  neck,  so  says  the  old  Puritan  chronicler, 
"and  hee  kissed  her  and  shee  kissed  him,  or  they  kissed  one 
another,  continuing  in  this  posture  about  half  an  hour."  Sarah's 
father  had  Jacob  dragged  into  court  on  a  charge  of  "inveagling"  his 
daughter's  affections,  and  things  looked  rather  black  for  him,  when 
Sarah  changed  the  aspect  of  the  case  materially  by  informing  the 
Court  that  Jacob  did  not  inveigle  her;  she  wanted  to  be  kissed,  and 
had  enticed  him.  The  Court  then  imposed  a  fine  upon  Sarah, 
which  her  father  had  to  pay,  and  she  was  admonished  as  a  "Bould 
Virgin"  to  watch  her  ways  more  carefully.  She  said  "that  she 
hoped  God  would  help  her  to  Carry  it  Better  for  time  to  come." 


39 


Independence  Day  with  Washington 

Sunday,  July  4th  1790. 

"Went  to  Trinity  Church  in  the  forenoon*  This  day  being  the 
Anniversary  of  the  declaration  of  Independence  the  celebration  of 
it  was  ptrt  of  until  to  morrow* 

Monday  5th. 

The  members  of  the  Senate,  House  of  Representatives,  Public 
Officers,  Foreign  Characters  &c.,  The  Members  of  the  Cincinnati, 
Officers  of  the  Militia  &c.,  came  with  the  compliments  of  the  day 
to  me — about  one  o'clock  a  sensible  Oration  was  delivered  in  St. 
Paul's  Chapel  by  Mr.  Brockholst  Levingston,  on  the  occasion  of  the 
day — the  tendency  of  which  was  to  show  the  different  situation  we 
are  now  in,  under  an  excellent  government  of  our  own  choice,  to 
what  it  would  have  been  if  we  had  not  succeeded  in  our  opposition 
to  the  attempts  of  Great  Britain  to  enslave  us;  and  how  much  we 
ought  to  cherish  the  blessings  which  are  within  our  reach,  &  to  culti- 
vate the  seeds  of  harmony  &  unanimity  in  all  our  public  Councils. — 
There  were  several  other  points  touched  upon  in  sensible  manner. 

"In  the  afternoon  many  Gentlemen  &  ladies  visited  Mrs* 
Washington. 

"I  was  informed  this  day  by  General  Irvine  (who  reed*  the 
acct.  from  Pittsburg)  that  the  Traitor  Arnold  was  at  Detroit  &  had 
viewed  the  Militia  in  the  Neighbourhood  of  it  twice. — This  had 
occasioned  much  Speculation  in  those  parts — and  with  many  other 
circumstances — though  trifling  in  themselves  led  strongly  to  a  con- 
jecture that  the  British  had  some  design  on  the  Spanish  settlements 
on  the  Missisipi  and  of  course  to  surround  these  United  States." 

Washington's  Diary. 
40 


Independence  Day 

Philadelphia 

July  4 — 178  \ — Fireworks  at  State  House* 

July  4 — 1783 — In  the  afternoon  a  triumphal  car,  prepared  by 
Mr*  Mason,  attended  by  a  number  of  boys  and  girls  dressed  in  white, 
was  paraded  through  the  streets  of  the  city,  this  being  the  memorable 
day  independence  was  declared. 

July  4 — 1786 — Forenoon  went  to  church  in  Race  Street  to  hear 
Major  William  Jackson's  oration  delivered  to  the  Pennsylvania 
Society  of  the  Cincinnati*  Afternoon  went  to  Governor  Samuel 
Morris's  fishing  house  on  Isaac  Warner's  place,  and  there  dined  on 

fish  and  beefsteaks.  *  *  *  * 

Jacob  Hiltzheimer. 


A  Curious  Ode  to  Independence  Day 

(Written  about  the  year  J800  and  first  published  in  the  Farmer's  Museum  in  Massachusetts.) 

Squeak  the  fife  and  beat  the  drum, 
Independence  Day  is  come!! 
Let  the  roasting  pig  be  bled, 
Quick  twist  off  the  rooster's  head. 
Quickly  rub  the  pewter  platter, 
Heap  the  nut  cakes  fried  in  butter. 
Set  the  cups  and  beaker  glass, 
The  pumpkin  and  the  apple  sauce* 
Send  the  keg  to  shop  for  brandy; 
Maple  sugar  we  have  handy. 
Independent,  staggering  Dick, 
A  noggin  mix  of  swinging  thick; 
Sal,  put  on  your  russel  skirt, 
Jotham,  get  your  boughten  shirt, 
Today  we  dance  to  tiddle-tiddle— 
Here  comes  Sambo  with  his  fiddle; 
Sambo,  take  a  draw  of  whiskey, 
And  play  up  Yankee  Doodle  frisky, 
Moll,  come  leave  your  witched  tricks, 
And  let  us  have  a  reel  of  six — 
Father  and  Mother  shall  make  two; 
Sail,  Moll,  and  I  stand  all  a  row. 
Sambo,  play  and  dance  polity; 

This  is  the  day  of  blest  equality, — 
42 


A  CURIOUS  ODE  TO  INDEPENDENCE  DAY          43 

Father  and  Mother  are  but  men, 
And  Sambo  is  a  citizen. 
Come,  foot  it,  Sal;  Moll,  figure  in, 
And,  mother,  you  dance  up  to  him; 
Now  saw  as  fast  as  e'er  you  can  do, 
And,  father,  you  cross  over  to  Sambo. 
Thus  we  dance  and  thus  we  play, 
On  glorious  Independence  Day* 
Rub  more  rosin  on  your  bow, 
And  let  us  have  another  go — 
Zounds!  as  sure  as  eggs  and  bacon, 
Here's  Ensign  Sneak  and  Uncle  Deacon, 
Aunt  Thiah,  and  their  Bet's  behind  her 
On  blundering  mare,  that  beetle  blinder — 
And  there's  the  Squire,  too,  with  his  lady — 
Sal,  hold  the  beast,  I'll  take  the  baby! 
Moll,  bring  the  Squire  our  great  arm-chair, 
Good  folks  we're  glad  to  see  you  here — 
Jotham,  get  the  great  case  bottle, 
,  Your  teeth  can  draw  the  corn-cob  stopple — 
Ensign,  Deacon,  never  mind; 
Squire,  drink  until  you're  blind* 


A  Celebration  of  the  Queen's  Birthday  in  Boston,  1714 

(From  the  Diary  of  Samuel  Sewall.) 

My  neighbor  Colson  knocks  at  my  door  about  nine  P*  M.,  or 
past,  to  tefl  of  disorders  at  the  ordinary  at  the  South  End,  kept  by 
Mr*  Wallace*  He  desired  me  that  I  would  accompany  Mr*  Brom- 
field  and  Constable  Howell  hither*  It  was  35  minutes  past  nine 
before  Mr*  Bromfield  came,  then  we  went,  took  ^Eneas  Salter  with 
us*  Found  much  company*  They  refused  to  go  away*  Said  was 
there  to  drink  the  Queen's  health  and  had  many  other  healths  to 
drink*  Called  for  more  drink  and  drank  to  me:  I  took  notice  of 
the  affront,  to  them*  Said  they  must  and  would  stay  upon  that 
solemn  occasion*  Mr*  Netmaker  drank  the  Queen's  health  to  me. 
I  told  him  I  drank  none;  on  that  he  ceased*  Mr*  Brinley  put  on 
his  hat  to  affront  me*  I  made  him  take  it  off*  I  threatened  to 
send  some  of  them  to  prison.  They  said  they  could  but  pay  their 
fine,  and  doing  that  might  stay*  I  told  them  if  they  had  not  a  care 
they  would  be  guilty  of  a  riot*  Mr*  Bromfield  spake  of  raising  a 
number  of  men  to  quell  them,  and  was  in  heat  ready  to  run  into 
the  street*  But  I  did  not  like  that*  Not  having  pen  and  ink  I 
went  to  take  their  names  with  my  pencil,  and  not  knowing  how  to 
spell  their  names  they  themselves  of  their  own  accord  writ  them. 
At  last  I  addressed  myself  to  Mr.  Banister*  I  told  him  he  had  been 
longest  an  inhabitant  and  freeholder  and  I  expected  he  would  set 
a  good  example  by  departing  thence.  Upon  this  he  invited  them 
to  his  own  house,  and  away  they  went*  And  we  after  them  went 

away* 

44 


In  Grandmothers  Gown 


Celebration  of  Royal  Birthdays  in  New  York 

His  Majesty's  Birthday,  was  observed  here  with  the  usual 
solemnity*  Between  the  hours  of  eleven  and  twelve  in  the  forenoon, 
his  Excellency,  our  Governour  was  attended  at  his  house  in  Fort 
George  by  the  Council,  Assembly,  Merchants,  and  other  Principal 
Gentlemen  and  Inhabitants  of  this  and  the  adjacent  Places.  The 
Independent  Companies  posted  here  being  under  Arms  and  the 
Cannon  round  the  Ramparts  firing  while  His  Majesty,  the  Queen's, 
the  Prince's,  the  Royal  Families,  and  their  Royal  Highnesses,  the 
Prince  and  Princess  of  Orange's  Healths  were  drunk;  and  thus 
followed  the  Healths  of  his  Grace,  the  Duke  of  New-Castle,  of  the 
Duke  of  Grafton,  of  the  Right  Honorable  Sir  Robert  Walpole,  and 
many  other  Royal  Healths*  In  the  Evening  the  whole  City  was 
illuminated,  his  Excellency  and  Lady  gave  a  splendid  Ball  and 
Supper  at  the  Fort,  where  was  the  most  Numerous  and  fine  Appear- 
ance of  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  that  had  ever  been  known  upon  the 

Like  occasion" 

Original  account  of  the  Kin<fs  Birthday,  1734. 


"The  Evening  was  concluded  with  all  demonstrations  of 
Loyalty  and  Joy»  There  was  a  Ball  and  Entertainment  at  the 
Fort  at  which  the  Appearance  of  Gentlemen  and  Ladies  was 
very  splendid,  many  of  them  in  New  Cloaths  and  very  rich  in 
Honor  of  the  Day" 

King's  Birthday,  J735. 
45  . 


46  COLONIAL  HOLIDAYS 

The  Prince  of  Wales's  Birthday  was  celebrated  at  the  Black 
Horse  in  a  most  elegant  and  genteel  Manner*  There  was  a  most 
magnificent  Appearance  of  Gentlemen  and  Ladies*  The  Ball  began 
with  French  Dances,  and  then  the  Company  proceeded  to  Country 
Dances,  upon  which  Mrs  Norris  led  up  two  new  Country  Dances 
made  upon  the  Occasion;  the  first  of  which  was  called  The  Prince 
of  Wales,  and  the  second  The  Princess  of  Saxe-Gotha,  in  Honour 
of  the  Day,  There  was  a  most  sumptuous  entertainment  afterward. 
At  the  conclusion  of  which  the  Honourable  Rip  Van  Damt  Esq., 
president  of  His  Majesty's  Council  began  the  Royal  Healths,  which 
were  all  drank  in  Bumpers*  The  whole  was  conducted  with  the 

utmost  Decency,  Mirth  and  Cheerfulness". 

(1736) 


The  King's  Birthday 

Boston 

Oct.  30th—  J750  Went  to  the  Ship,  Weatherheads  and  to 
Change,  from  thence  went  and  Dynd  at  Capt.  Wendells.  Being  his 
Majesties  Birthday  the  Loyal  healths  were  drank,  we  haveing  an 
Invitation  from  Mr.  Thomas  Pierson  Spent  the  Evening  with  him 
Singing  Songs  Drinking  Loyal  Toasts  &c  being  Joynd  by  the  Ladiest 
who  shewed  their  Loyalty  by  accomp'y  us  Singing  &c.  I  Omitted, 
at  noone  went  with  Capt.  Wendell  to  the  Cotmcill  Chamber  in  the 
Towne  House  where  drank  the  Loyall  Toasts  with  the  Lieutt  Govern* 

Council  &c" 

Journal  of  Capt  Francis  Goelet. 


47 


A  "Turtle  Frolick"  in  1750 

Boston 

October  2d  J750*  Had  an  Invitation  to  day  to  Go  to  a  Turtle 
Frolick  with  a  Compy  of  Gentn  and  Ladies  at  Mr  Richardson's  in 
Cambridge,  ab*  6  miles  from  Towne*  I  accordingly  waited  on  Miss 
Betty  Wendell  with  a  Chaise,  who  was  my  Partner,  the  Companie 
Consisted  of  about  20  Couple  Gentn  and  Ladies  of  the  Best  Fashion 
in  Boston,  viz»  the  two  Miss  Phips,  Lu*  Govern*1  Daughters,  the  Miss 
Childs,  Miss  Quincys,  Miss  Wendells  &c»  Danced  Several  Minuits 
and  Country  Dances,  and  where  very  Merry  about  Dusk  we  all  rode 
Home,  and  See  our  Partners  safe,  and  Spent  the  Evening  at  Capt. 

Maglachlins  &c* 

Journal  of  Capt.  Francis  Goelet. 


48 


Programme  for  a  Celebration  of  St.  Andrew's  Day  in 

Old  Virginia 

Williamsburg,  Oct.  7,   1737 

44  We  have  Advice  from  Hanover  County,  That  on  St.  Andrew's 
Day,  being  on  the  30th  of  November  next,  there  are  to  be  Horse 
Races  and  several  other  Diversions,  for  the  Entertainment  of  Gentle- 
men and  Ladies,  at  the  Old  Field  near  Capt.  John  Bickerton's  in 
that  County,  (if  permitted  by  the  Hon.  William  Byrd,  Esq.,  Pro- 
prietor of  the  said  Land)  The  Substance  of  which  are  to  be  as  fol- 
lows, viz: 

"It  is  propos'd,  that  20  Horses  or  Mares  do  run  round  a  Three 
Mile  Course,  for  a  Prize  of  the  Value  of  Five  Pounds,  according  to 
the  usual  Rules  of  Racing;  That  every  horse  that  runs  shall  be  first 
enter'd  with  Mr.  Joseph  Fox,  and  that  no  Person  have  the  Liberty 
of  putting  in  a  Horse,  unless  he  is  a  Subscriber  toward  defraying  the 
Expence  of  this  Entertainment,  and  pay  to  Mr.  Fox  Half  a  Pistole 
of  it  at  entring  his  Horse. 

"That  a  Hat  of  the  Value  of  20s.  be  cudgelfd  for,  and  that 
after  the  first  Challenge  made,  the  Drums  are  to  beat,  once  every 
Quarter  of  an  Hour,  for  Three  Challenges  round  the  Ring;  on  no 
Answer  made,  the  Person  Challenging  to  be  entitled  to  the  Prize; 
and  none  to  Play  with  their  Left  Hand. 

"That  a  Violin  be  played  for  by  20  Fiddlers,  and  to  be  given  to 
him  that  shall  be  adjudged  to  play  the  best:  No  Person  to  have  the 
Liberty  of  playing,  unless  he  brings  a  Fiddle  with  him.  After  the 
Prize  is  won,  they  are  all  to  play  together,  and  each  a  different 

Tune:  and  to  be  treated  by  the  Company. 

49 


50  COLONIAL  HOLIDAYS 

"That  12  Boys  of  \2  years  of  Age  do  rtm  \\2  Yards  for  a  Hat 
of  the  Value  of  \2  Shillings* 

"That  a  Flag  be  flying  on  the  said  Day  30  Feet  high. 

"That  a  handsome  Entertainment  be  provided  for  the  Sub- 
scribers and  their  Wives;  and  such  of  them  who  are  not  as  happy  as 
to  have  wives,  may  treat  any  other  Lady*  And  that  convenient 
Booths  be  erected  for  that  Purpose* 

"That  Drums,  Trumpets,  Haut  boys,  &c*  will  be  provided,  to 
play  at  the  said  Entertainment* 

"That  after  Dinner,  The  Royal  Healths,  his  Honour  the  Gov- 
ernor's &c*  are  to  be  drank, 

"That  a  Quire  of  Ballads  be  sung  for,  by  a  Number  of  Song- 
sters, The  best  Songster  to  have  the  Prize,  and  all  of  them  to  have 
Liquor  sufficient  to  clear  their  Wind  Pipes, 

"That  a  Pair  of  Silver  Buckles  be  Wrestled  for,  by  a  certain 
Number  of  brisk  young  Men* 

"That  a  Pair  of  handsome  Silk  Stockings  of  One  Pistole  Value, 
be  given  to  the  handsomest  young  Country  Maid  that  appears  in 
the  Field;  With  many  other  whimsical  and  Comical  Diversions,  too 
tedious  to  mention  here* 

"The  Horse  Race  is  to  be  run  that  day,  fair  or  foul,  but  if  foul, 
the  other  diversions  are  to  be  continued  the  next  day, 

"The  Subscription  Money  to  be  paid  on  the  said  Day  in  the 
Field;  and  Notice  will  be  there  given,  who  is  to  receive  it, 

"And  as  this  Mirth  is  designed  to  be  purely  innocent  and  void 
of  Offence,  all  Persons  resorting  there  are  desir'd  to  behave  them- 
selves with  Decency  and  Sobriety;  the  Subscribers  being  resolved 
to  discountenance  all  Immorality  with  the  utmost  Rigour* 

Virginia  Gazette. 


Election  Day 

"Who  blew  up  the  ship? 
Nigger,  why  for? 
'Cause  he  couldn't  go  to  'lection 
An  shake  paw-paw" 

In  1817  a  negro  boy,  William  Read,  blew  up  a  ship,  the  Canton 
Packet,  in  Boston  Harbor  because  he  was  not  allowed  to  partake  of 
the  festivities  of  ''Artillery  Election*"  The  above  verse  resulted 
from  the  incident*  Paw-Paw  was  a  game  of  chance  in  which  sea 
shells  were  used  as  dice*  Negroes  were  allowed  on  the  Common 
only  at  "Nigger  'Lection" 


The  First  Thanksgiving  Held  in  North  America 

The  Frobisher  Expedition  on  chores  of  Newfoundland,  1578 

"In  primus: — to  banish  swearing,  dice  and  card  playing,  and 
filthy  communication,  and  to  serve  God  twice  a  day,  with  the 
ordinary  services  of  the  Church  of  England*  On  Monday  morning, 
May  twenty-seventh,  J578,  aboard  the  Ayde,  we  received  all,  the 
communion  by  the  minister  of  Gravesend,  prepared  as  good  Chris- 
tians toward  God,  and  resolute  men  for  all  fortunes;  and  toward 
night  we  departed  toward  Tilbury  Hope.  Here  we  highly  prayed 
God,  and  altogether,  upon  our  knees,  gave  him  due  humble  and 
hearty  thanks,  and  Maister  Wolfall,  a  learned  man  appointed  by 
minister,  made  unto  us  a  goodlye  sermon,  exhorting  all  especially 
to  be  thankful  to  God  for  His  strange  and  marvelous  deliverance  in 
those  dangerous  places'** 


52 


A  Thanksgiving  at  Sagadahoc  in  1607 

44 Sunday e  being  the  nineth  of  August,  in  the  morninget  the 
most  part  of  our  hole  company  of  both  our  ships,  landed  on  this 
island,  where  the  cross  standeth,  and  thear  we  heard  a  sermon 
delyvred  unto  us  by  our  preacher,  giving  God  thanks  for  our  happy 
meetinge  and  safe  aryvafl  into  this  country;  and  so  returned  aboard 

again"* 

Old  Record. 


53 


Thanksgiving  at  Plymouth,  1621 

All  sorts  of  grain  which  our  own  land  doth  yield. 
Was  hither  brought,  and  sown  in  every  field: 
As  wheat  and  rye,  barley,  oats,  beans  and  pease 
Here  all  thrive  and  they  profit  from  them  raise, 
All  sorts  of  roots  and  herbs  in  gardens  grow, — 
Parsnips,  carrotts,  turnips  or  what  you'll  sow, 
Onions,  melons,  cucumbers,  radishes, 
Skirets,  beets,  coleworts  and  fair  cabbages* 

Famine  once  we  had — 
But  other  things  God  gave  us  in  full  store, 
As  fish  and  ground  nuts,  to  supply  our  strait, 
That  we  might  learn  on  providence  to  wait; 
And  know,  by  bread  man  lives  not  in  his  need, 
But  by  each  word  that  doth  from  God  proceed* 

Gov.  Bradford. 


54 


The  Harvest 

They  begane  now  to  gather  in  the  small  harvest  they  had,  and 
to  fitte  up  their  houses  and  dwellings  against  winter,  being  all  well 
recovered  in  health  and  strength,  and  had  all  things  in  good  plenty; 
for  as  some  were  thus  imployed  in  affairs  abroad,  others  were  excer- 
sised  in  fishing,  aboute  codd,  and  bass,  and  other  fish,  of  which  they 
tooke  good  store,  of  which  every  family  had  their  portion.  All 
the  sommer  ther  was  no  wante.  And  now  begane  to  come  in  store 
of  foule,  as  winter  approached,  of  which  this  place  did  abound  when 
they  came  first  (but  afterward  decreased  by  degrees).  And  besides 
water  foule,  ther  was  great  store  of  wild  Turkies,  of  which  they 
tooke  many,  besides  venison,  etc.  Besids  they  had  aboute  a  peck 
of  meale  a  weeke  to  a  person,  or  now  since  harvest,  Indian  corne  to 
that  proportion.  Which  made  many  afterwards  write  so  largely  of 
their  plenty  hear  to  their  freinds  in  England,  which  were  not  f ained, 

but  true  reports.  -        m     , ,-    , 

Got.  Bradford 

Turkies  there  are,  which  divers  times  in  great  flocks  have  sallied 
by  our  doores;  and  then  a  gunne  (being  commonly  in  redinesse) 
salutes  them  with  such  a  courtesie,  as  makes  them  take  a  turne  in 
the  cooke  room.  They  dance  by  the  doore  so  well!  Of  these  there 
hath  bin  killed,  that  have  weighed  forty-eight  pound  a  piece  *  * 
The  Beare  is  a  tyrant  at  a  lobster,  and  at  low  water  will  downe  to 
the  Rocks,  and  groape  after  them  with  great  diligence.  Hee  will 
runne  away  from  a  man  like  a  little  dogge.  If  a  couple  of  Salvages 
chance  to  espie  him  at  his  banquet,  his  running  away  will  not  serve 
his  turne,  for  they  will  coate  him  and  chase  him  between  them  home 
to  their  houses,  where  they  kill  him,  to  save  a  laboure  in  carrying 

him  farre."  _ 

Thomas  Morton. 
55 


The  Festival 

harvests  being  gathered  in,  our  governor  sent  foure  men 
on  fowling,  so  that  we  might  after  a  more  special!  manner  re  Joyce 
together,  after  we  had  gathered  the  fruit  of  our  labors;  they  foure 
in  one  day  killed  as  much  fowle  as  with  a  little  helpe  beside,  served 
the  company  almost  a  weeke,  at  which  time  amongst  other  recrea- 
tions, we  exercised  our  Armes,  many  of  the  Indians  coming  amongst 
us,  and  amongst  the  rest  their  greatest  King  Massasoyt,  with  some 
ninetie  men,  whom  for  three  days  we  entertained  and  feasted,  and 
they  went  out  and  killed  five  deere,  which  they  brought  to  the 
Plantation  and  bestowed  on  our  Governor,  and  upon  the  Captaine 
(Standish)  and  others*  And  although  it  be  not  always  so  plentifull, 
as  it  was  at  this  time  with  us,  yet  by  the  goodnesse  of  God,  we  arc 
so  farre  from  want  that  we  often  wish  you  partakers  of  our  plentie* 

Edward  Wtnstow. 


56 


The  Fast  and  Thanksgiving  of  1623 

'0 

"I  may  not  here  omite  how,  notwithstand  afl  their  great  paines 
and  Industrie,  and  the  great  hops  of  a  large  cropp,  the  Lord  seemed 
to  blast,  and  take  away  the  same,  and  to  threaten  farther  and  more 
sore  famine  unto  them,  by  a  great  drought  which  continued  from 
the  3  weeke  in  May,  till  about  the  midle  of  July,  without  any  raine, 
and  with  great  heat  (for  the  most  parte),  insomuch  as  the  corne 
begane  to  wither  away,  though  it  was  set  with  fishe,  the  moysture 
whereof  helped  it  much*  Yet  at  length  it  begane  to  languish  sore, 
and  some  of  the  drier  grounds  were  parched  like  withered  hay, 

part  whereof  was  never  recovered*"  -nr.n.       m     //•    1 

William  ^Bradford. 

"The  most  courageous  were  now  discouraged,  because  God, 
which  hitherto  had  been  their  only  shield  and  supporter,  now  seemed 
in  his  anger  to  arm  himself  against  them*  These  and  like  considera- 
tions moved  not  only  every  good  man  privately  to  enter  into  exam- 
ination with  his  own  estate  between  God  and  his  conscience  and  so 
to  humiliation  before  him,  but  also  more  solemnly  to  humble  our- 
selves together  before  the  Lord  by  fasting  and  prayer*  To  that 
end  a  day  was  appointed  by  public  authority,  and  set  apart  from 
all  other  employments;  hoping  that  the  same  God,  which  had  stirred 
us  up  hereunto,  would  be  moved  hereby  in  mercy  to  look  down 
upon  us  and  grant  the  request  of  our  dejected  souls,  if  our  continuance 
there  might  any  way  stand  with  his  glory  and  our  good*  But  O  the 

mercy  of  God!  who  was  as  ready  to  hear  as  we  to  ask:  for  though 

57 


58  COLONIAL  HOLIDAYS 

in  the  morning,  when  we  assembled  together,  the  heavens  were  as 
clear,  and  the  drotrth  as  like  to  continue  as  ever  it  wast  yet  (our 
exercise  continuing  some  eight  or  nine  hours)  before  our  departure, 
the  weather  was  overcast,  the  clouds  gathered  together  on  all  sides, 
and  on  the  next  morning  distilled  such  soft,  sweet,  and  moderate 
showers  of  rain,  continuing  some  fourteen  days  and  mixed  with 
such  seasonable  weather,  as  it  was  hard  to  say  whether  our  withered 
corn,  or  drooping  affections,  were  most  quickened  or  revived;  such 
was  the  bounty  and  goodness  of  God*  Of  this  the  Indians,  by 
means  of  Hobbamock,  took  notice,  who  being  then  in  the  town, 
and  this  exercise  in  the  midst  of  the  week,  said,  it  was  but  three 
days  since  Sunday,  and  therefore  demanded  of  a  boy,  what  was 
the  reason  thereof,  which  when  he  knew,  and  saw  the  effects  fol- 
lowed thereupon,  he  and  all  of  them  admired  the  goodness  of  our 
God  towards  us,  that  wrought  so  great  a  change  in  so  short  a  time, 
showing  the  difference  between  their  conjuration,  and  our  invocation 
on  the  name  of  God  for  rain,  theirs  being  mixed  with  such  storms 
and  tempests,  as  sometimes,  instead  of  doing  them  good,  it  layeth 
the  corn  flat  on  the  ground,  to  their  prejudice,  but  ours  is  in  so 
gentle  and  seasonable  a  manner  as  they  never  observed  the  like. 
Having  these  many  signs  of  God's  favor  and  acceptation,  we  thought 
it  would  be  great  ingratitude,  if  secretly  we  should  smother  up  the 
same,  or  content  ourselves  with  private  thanksgiving  for  that  which 
by  private  prayer  could  not  be  obtained*  And  therefore  another 
solemn  day  was  set  apart  and  appointed  for  that  end;  wherein  we 
returned  glory,  honor,  and  praise,  with  all  thankfulness,  to  our 
Good  God,  which  dealt  so  graciously  with  us;  whose  name  for  these 
and  all  other  his  Mercies  towards  his  church  and  chosen  ones,  by 
them  be  blessed  and  praised,  now  and  evermore.  Amen. 

Edward  Winslow. 


A  Thanksgiving  with  Anna  Green  Winslow 

Boston,  Nov..  1771 

I  guess  I  shall  have  but  little  time  for  journalizing  till  after 
thanksgiving*  My  aunt  Deming  says  I  shall  make  one  pye  myself 
at  least*  I  hope  somebody  beside  myself  will  like  to  eat  a  bit  of 
my  Boston  pye  thou*  my  papa  and  you  did  not  (I  remember)  chuse 
to  partake  of  my  Cumberland  performance*  I  think  I  have  been 
writing  my  own  Praises  this  morning*  Poor  Job  was  forced  to 
praise  himself  when  no  man  would  do  him  that  justice*  I  am  not 
as  he  was  * 

Nov,  27th — *  *  Last  monday  I  went  with  my  aunt  to  visit 
Mrs  Beacon*  I  was  exceedingly  pleased  with  the  visitt  &  so  I  ought 
to  be,  my  aunt  says,  for  there  was  much  notice  taken  of  me,  par- 
ticularly by  Mr,  Beacon*  I  think  I  like  him  better  every  time  I 
see  him*  I  suppose  he  takes  the  kinder  notice  of  me,  because  last 
Thursday  evening  he  was  here,  &  when  I  was  out  of  the  room,  aunt 
told  him  that  I  minded  his  preaching  &  could  repeat  what  he  said — 
I  might  have  told  you  that  notwithstanding  the  stir  about  the 
Proclamation,  we  had  an  agreable  Thanksgiven*  Mr,  Hunt's  text 
was  Psa*  XCVII*  J*  The  Lord  reigneth, — let  the  earth  rejoice. 
Mr*  Beacon's  text  P*  M*  Psa.  XXIV*  J.  The  earth  is  the  Lord's  & 
the  fullness  thereof*  My  ankle  &  aunt  Winslow  of  Boston,  their 
son  &  daughter,  Master  Daniel  Mason,  (Aunt  Winslow's  nephew 
from  Newport,  Rhode  Island)  &  Miss  Soley  spent  the  evening  with 
us*  We  young  folk  had  a  room  with  a  fire  in  it  to  ourselves*  Mr* 

Beacon  gave  us  his  company  for  one  hour* 

59 


60  COLONIAL  HOLIDAYS 

30th  Nov — My  company  yesterday  were 

Miss  Polly  Deming 

Polly  Glover 
Miss  Peggy  Draper 
Miss  Nancy  Glover 
Miss  Bessie  Winslow 
Miss  Sally  Winslow 
Miss  Polly  Atwood 
Miss  Hanfa  Soley* 

Miss  Attwood  as  well  as  Miss  Winslow  are  of  this  family.  And 
Miss  N.  Glover  did  me  honor  by  her  presence,  for  she  is  older  than 
cousin  Sally  and  of  her  acquaintance*  We  made  four  couple  at 
country  dansing;  danceing  I  mean.  In  the  evening  young  Mr. 
Waters  hearing  of  my  assembly,  put  his  flute  in  his  pocket  and 
played  several  minuets  and  other  tunes  to  which  we  danced  mighty 
cleverly.  But  Lucinda  was  our  principal  piper.  Miss  Church  and 
Miss  Chaloner  would  have  been  here  if  sickness, — and  the  Miss 
Sheafs,  if  the  death  of  their  father  had  not  prevented.  The  black 
Hatt  I  gratefully  receive  as  your  present  but  if  Captain  Jarvise  had 
arrived  here  with  it  about  the  time  he  saifd  from  this  place  for 
Cumberland,  it  would  have  been  of  more  service  to  me,  for  I  was 
obliged  to  borrow.  *  *  *  I  hope  aunt  wont  let  me  wear  the  black 
hatt  with  the  red  Dominie — for  the  people  will  ask  me  what  I 
have  got  to  sell  as  I  go  along  the  street  if  I  do,  or,  how  the 
folk  at  New  guinie  do?  Dear  mamma,  you  don't  know  the  fation 
here — I  beg  to  look  like  other  folk  *  *  I  must  now  close  up  this 
Journal. 

With  Duty,  Love  &  Compliments,  as  due,  perticularly  to  my 


A  THANKSGIVING  WITH  ANNA  GREEN  WINSLOW    6J 

Dear  little  brother  (I  long  to  see  him)  &  Mrs  Law,  I  will  write 

her  soon, 

I  am  Hon'd  Papa  &  Mama, 

Y-r  ever  Dutiful  Daughter, 

Anne  Green  Winslow* 

N*  B.    My  aunt  Deming  dont  approve  of  my  English  &  has  not 
the  fear  that  you  will  think  her  concerned  in  the  Diction. 


A  New  England  Thanksgiving  Dinner  in  1779 

"Dear  Cousin  Betsey: —  *  * 

When  Thanksgiving  Day  was  approaching  our  dear  Grandmother 
Smith  (nee  Jerusha  Mather,  great-granddaughter  of  the  Rev*  Richard 
Mather  of  Dorchester,  Mass.,)  who  is  sometimes  a  little  desponding 
of  Spirit  as  you  well  know,  did  her  best  to  pursuade  its  that  it  would 
be  better  to  make  it  a  Day  of  Fasting  and  Prayer  in  view  of  the 
Wickedness  of  our  Friends  &c*  the  Vileness  of  our  Enemies*  I  am 
sure  you  can  hear  Grandmother  say  that  and  see  her  shake  her  cap 
border*  But  indeed  there  was  some  occasion  for  her  remarks,  for 
our  resistance  to  an  unjust  authority  has  cost  our  beautiful  Coast 
Towns  very  dear  the  last  year  &  all  of  us  have  had  much  to  suffer. 
But  my  dear  Father  brought  her  to  a  more  proper  frame  of  Mind, 
so  that  by  the  time  the  Day  came  she  was  ready  to  enjoy  it  almost 
as  well  as  Grandmother  Worthington  did,  &  she,  you  will  remember, 
always  sees  the  bright  side*  In  the  mean  while  we  had  all  of  us 
been  working  hard  to  get  all  things  in  readiness  to  do  honor  to  the 
Day* 

"This  year  it  was  Uncle  Simeon's  turn  to  have  the  dinner  at 
his  house,  but  of  course  we  all  helped  them  as  they  help  us  when  it 
is  our  turn,  &  there  is  always  enough  for  us  all  to  do*  All  the  baking 
of  pies  &  cakes  was  done  at  our  house  &  we  had  the  big  oven  heated 
&  filled  twice  each  day  for  three  days  before  it  was  all  done,  &  every- 
thing was  Good,  though  we  did  have  to  do  without  some  things 

that  ought  to  be  used.     Neither  Love  nor  Money  could  buy  Raisins, 

62 


A  NEW  ENGLAND  THANKSGIVING  DINNER  IN  J779    63 

but  out  good  red  cherries  dried  without  the  pits,  did  almost  as  well 
&  happily  Uncle  Simeon  still  had  some  spices  in  store*  The  tables 
were  set  in  the  Dining  Hall  and  even  that  big  room  had  no  space 
to  spare  when  we  were  all  seated.  The  Servants  had  enough  ado  to 
get  around  the  Tables  &  serve  us  all  without  over-setting  things* 
There  were  our  two  Grandmothers  side  by  side.  They  are  always 
handsome  old  Ladies,  but  now,  many  thought,  they  were  handsomer 
than  ever,  &  happy  they  were  to  look  around  upon  so  many  of  their 
descendants.  Uncle  &  Aunt  Simeon  preside  at  one  Table,  &  Father 
&  Mother  at  the  other.  Besides  us  five  boys  &  girls  there  were  two 
of  the  Gales  &  three  Elmers,  besides  James  Browne  &  Ephriam 
Cowles.  We  had  them  at  our  table  because  they  could  be  best 
supervised  there.  Most  of  the  students  had  gone  to  their  own  homes 
for  the  weeks,  but  Mr.  Skiff  and  Mr.  —  were  too  far  away  from  their 
homes.  They  sat  at  Uncle  Simeon's  table  &  so  did  Uncle  Paul  and 
his  family,  five  of  them  in  all,  &  Cousins  Phin  &  Poll.  Then  there 
were  six  of  the  Livingston  family  next  door.  They  had  never  seen 
a  Thanksgiving  Dinner  before,  having  been  used  to  keep  Christmas 
Day  instead,  as  is  the  wont  in  New  York  &  Province.  Then  there 
were  four  Old  Ladies  who  have  no  longer  Homes  or  Children  of 
their  own  &  so  came  to  us.  They  were  invited  by  my  Mother,  but 
Uncle  and  Aunt  Simeon  wished  it  so. 

"Of  course  we  could  have  no  Roast  Beef.  None  of  us  have 
tasted  Beef  this  three  years  back  as  it  all  must  go  to  the  Army, 
&  too  little  they  get,  poor  fellows.  But,  Mayqutttymaw's  Hunters 
were  able  to  get  us  a  fine  red  Deer,  so  that  we  had  a  good  haunch 
of  Venisson  on  each  Table.  These  were  balanced  by  huge  Chines  of 
Roast  Pork  at  the  other  ends  of  the  Tables.  Then  there  was  on 
one  a  big  Roast  Turkey  &  on  the  other  a  Goose,  &  two  big  Pigeon 
Pasties.  Then  there  was  an  abundance  of  good  Vegetables  of  all 


64  COLONIAL  HOLIDAYS 

the  old  Sorts  &  one  which  I  do  not  believe  you  have  yet  seen*  Uncle 
Simeon  had  imported  the  Seede  from  England  just  before  the  War 
began  &  only  this  Year  was  there  enough  for  Table  use.  It  is  called 
Sellery  &  you  eat  it  without  cooking.  It  is  very  good  served  with 
meats.  Next  year  Uncle  Simeon  says  he  will  be  able  to  raise  enough 
to  give  us  all  some.  It  has  to  be  taken  up.  roots  &  all  &  buried  in 
earth  in  the  cellar  through  the  winter  &  only  pulling  up  some  when 
you  want  it  to  use* 

"Our  Mince  Pies  were  good  although  we  had  to  use  dried  Cherries 
as  I  told  you.  &  the  meat  was  shoulder  of  Venisson,  instead  of  Beef* 
The  Pumpkin  Pies,  Apple  Tarts  &  big  Indian  Puddings  lacked  for 
nothing  save  Appetite  by  the  time  we  had  got  around  to  them. 

"Of  course  we  had  no  Wine.  Uncle  Simeon  has  still  a  cask  or 
two.  but  it  must  be  all  saved  for  the  sick.  &  indeed,  for  those  who 
are  well,  good  Cider  is  a  sufficient  Substitute.  There  was  no  Plumb 
Pudding,  but  a  boiled  Suet  Pudding,  stirred  thick  with  dried  Plumbs 
&  Cherries,  was  called  by  the  old  name  &  answered  the  purpose. 
All  the  other  spice  had  been  used  in  the  Mince  Pies,  so  for  this 
Pudding  we  used  a  jar  of  West  India  preserved  Ginger  which  chanced 
to  be  left  of  the  last  shipment  which  Uncle  Simeon  had  from  there, 
we  chopped  the  Ginger  small  and  stirred  it  through  with  the  Plumbs 
and  Cherries.  It  was  extroardinary  goods.  The  Day  was  bitter  cold 
&  when  we  got  home  from  Meeting,  which  Father  did  not  keep  over 
long  by  reason  of  the  cold,  we  were  glad  eno*  of  the  fire  in  Uncle's 
Dining  Hall,  but  by  the  time  the  dinner  was  one-half  over  those 
of  us  who  were  on  the  fire  side  of  one  Table  was  forced  to  get  up  & 
carry  our  plates  with  us  around  to  the  far  side  of  the  other  Table, 
while  those  who  had  sat  there  were  glad  to  bring  their  plates  around 
to  the  fire  side  to  get  warm.  All  but  the  Old  Ladies  who  had  a 
screen  put  behind  their  chairs. 


A  NEW  ENGLAND  THANKSGIVING  DINNER  IN  1779    65 

44  Uncle  Simoen  was  in  his  best  mood,  and  you  know  how  good 
that  is!  He  kept  both  Tables  in  a  roar  of  laughter  with  his  droll 
stories  of  the  days  when  he  was  studying  medicine  in  Edinborough, 
&  afterwards  he  &  Father  &  Uncle  Paul  joined  in  singing  Hymns  & 
Ballads*  You  know  how  fine  their  voices  go  together.  Then  we 
all  sang  a  Hymn  and  afterwards  my  dear  Father  led  us  in  prayer, 
remembering  all  Absent  Friends  before  the  Throne  of  Grace,  &  much 
I  wished  that  my  dear  Betsey  was  here  as  one  of  us,  as  she  has  been 
of  yore. 

"We  did  not  rise  from  the  Table  until  it  was  quite  dark,  &  when 
the  dishes  had  been  cleared  away  we  all  got  around  the  fire  as  close 
as  we  could,  &  cracked  nuts,  &  sang  songs,  &  told  stories.  At  least 
some  told,  &  others  listened.  You  know  nobody  can  exceed  the 
two  Grandmothers  at  telling  tales  of  all  the  things  they  have  seen 
themselves,  &  repeating  those  of  the  early  years  in  New  England, 
&  even  some  in  the  Old  England,  which  they  had  heard  in  their 
youth  from  their  Elders*  My  Father  says  it  is  a  goodly  custom  to 
hand  down  all  worthy  deeds  &  traditions  from  Father  to  Son,  as 
the  Israelites  were  commanded  to  do  about  the  Passover  &  as  the 
Indians  here  have  always  done,  because  the  Word  that  is  spoken 
is  remembered  longer  than  the  one  that  is  written.  *  *  Brother  Jack, 
who  did  not  reach  here  until  late  on  Wednesday  though  he  left  the 
College  very  early  on  Monday  Morning  &  rode  with  all  due  diligence 
considering  the  snow,  brought  an  orange  to  each  of  the  Grand- 
mothers, but  Alas!  they  were  frozen  in  his  saddle  bags.  We  soaked 
the  frost  out  in  cold  water,  but  I  guess  they  wasn't  as  good  as  they 

should  have  been  *  * 

Juliana  Smith. 


Thanksgiving  Proclamation  of  Gen.  Washington  at  Valley  Forge, 

May  6,  1778 

"It  having  pleased  the  Almighty  Ruler  of  the  Universe  to 
defend  the  cause  of  the  United  American  States,  and  finally  to  raise 
us  up  a  powerful  friend  among  the  princes  of  the  earth,  to  establish 
our  liberty  and  independency  upon  a  lasting  foundation,  it  becomes 
us  to  set  apart  a  day  for  gratefully  acknowledging  the  Divine  Good- 
ness, and  celebrating  the  important  event  which  we  owe  to  his 
Divine  Interposition*  The  several  brigades  are  to  be  assembled  for 
this  purpose  at  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning,  when  their  chap- 
lains will  communicate  the  intelligence  contained  in  the  postscript  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Gazette  of  the  second  instant,  and  offer  up  thanks- 
giving, and  deliver  a  discourse  suitable  to  the  occasion* 

"At  half-past  ten  o'clock  a  cannon  will  be  fired,  which  is  to  be 
a  signal  for  the  men  to  be  under  arms;  the  brigade  inspectors  will 
then  inspect  their  dress  and  arms,  and  form  the  battalions  accord- 
ing to  the  instructions  given  them,  and  announce  to  the  commanding 
officers  of  the  brigade  that  the  battalions  are  formed* 

"The  commanders  of  brigades  will  then  appoint  field-officers  to 
the  battalions,  after  which  each  battalion  will  be  ordered  to  hold 
and  ground  their  arms*  At  half-past  eleven  a  second  cannon  will 
be  fired  as  a  signal  for  the  march,  upon  which  the  several  brigades 
will  begin  march  by  wheeling  to  the  right  of  platoons,  and  proceed 
by  the  nearest  way  to  the  left  of  their  ground  by  the  new  position; 
this  will  be  pointed  out  by  the  brigade  inspectors* 

"A  third  signal  will  then  be  given,  on  which  there  will  be  a 

66 


WASHINGTON'S  THANKSGIVING  PROCLAMATION    67 

discharge  of  thirteen  cannon,  after  which  a  running  fire  of  the 
infantry  will  begin  on  the  right  of  Woodford's,  and  will  continue 
throughout  the  front  line;  it  will  then  be  taken  up  on  the  left  of 
the  second  line,  and  continue  to  the  right*  Upon  a  signal  given, 
the  whole  army  will  huzza: 

"LONG  LIVE  THE  KING  OF  FRANCE!" 

"The  Artillery  then  begins,  and  fires  thirteen,  rounds;  this  will 
be  succeeded  by  a  second  general  discharge  of  the  musketry  in  a 
running  fire,  and  huzza: 
"LONG  LIVE  THE  FRIENDLY  EUROPEAN  POWERS!" 

"The  last  discharge  of  thirteen  pieces  of  artillery  will  be  given, 
followed  by  a  general  running  fire  and  huzza: 

"THE  AMERICAN  STATES!" 

Geo.  Washington. 


Thanksgiving  in  New  York 

Thursday  Nov.  26th — Being  the  day  appointed  for  a  Thanks- 
giving, I  went  to  St.  Paul's  Chapel,  though  it  was  most  inclement 

and  stormy — but  few  people  at  church. 

Washington's  Wary. 


68 


Record  of  a  Thanksgiving  at  Scituate  Church  Dec.  22,  1636 

"In  ye  Meetinghouse,  beginning  some  halfe  an  hour  before  nine 
&  continued  until  after  twelve  aclock,  ye  day  beeing  very  cold, 
beginning  wt  a  short  prayer,  then  a  psalme  sang,  then  more  large 
in  prayer,  after  that  an  other  Psalme,  &  then  the  Word  taught, 
after  that  prayer — &  then  a  psalme, — Then  makeing  merry  to 
the  creatures,  the  poorer  sort  beeing  invited  of  the  richer". 


69 


The  Thanksgiving  Law 

"That  it  be  in  the  power  of  the  Governor  &  Assist8  to  comand 
solemn  daies  of  httmiliacon  by  fasting  &ct  and  also  for  thankesgiving 

as  occasion  shall  be  offered"* 

Colonial  Laws,  1636. 


70 


The  First  Thanksgiving  Proclamation  in  Early  New  York 
Records,  Aug.  31,  1645 

"Whereas  it  hath  pleased  Almighty  God  in  his  unbounded 
clemency  and  mercy,  in  addition  to  many  previous  blessings,  to 
suffer  us  to  reach  a  long  wished  for  peace  with  the  Indians*  There- 
fore, it  is  deemed  necessary  to  proclaim  the  fact  to  all  those  of 
New  Netherland,  to  the  end  that  in  all  places  within  the  aforesaid 
country  where  Dutch  and  English  churches  are  established,  God 
Almighty  may  be  especially  thanked,  praised,  and  blessed  on  next 
Wednesday  forenoon,  being  the  6th  of  September,  the  text  to  be 
appropriate  and  the  sermon  to  be  applicable  thereto*  Your  Rev- 
erence will  please  announce  this  matter  to  the  Congregation  next 
Sunday  so  that  they  may  have  notice*  On  which  we  rely* 

M  5,  Council  Minutes. 


Thanksgiving  in  Boston  in  1685  and  1688 

Sabbath  Day,  Novr  J5,  J685*  In  the  afternoon  Mary  Smith, 
Widow,  Mr*  Wheelwright's  Grandchild,  was  taken  into  the  Church; 
then  Mr*  Willard  mentioned  what  the  Elders  had  done  as  to  a  Thanks- 
giving, and  propounded  to  the  Church  that  we  might  have  one  on 
the  first  Thorsday  in  December:  because  had  Fasted,  and  God  had 
graciously  answered  our  Prayers;  so  should  meet  Him  in  the  same 
place  to  give  Thanks  for  that,  and  any  other  Providence  that  hath 
passed  before  us*  Silence  gave  Consent,  no  one  speaking* 

Wednesday,  Novf  J8.  Uncomfortable  Court  day  by  reason  of 
extream  sharp  words  between  the  Deputy  Governour  and  Mr. 
Stoughton,  Dudley  and  Others*  Some  Essay  to  have  put  a  Sanction 
upon  the  Apointment  for  a  Thanksgiving;  but  it  fell  through*  I 
argued  'twas  not  fit  upon  meer  Generals,  as  (the  Mercies  of  the 
year)  to  Comand  a  Thanksgiving  and  of  Particulars  we  could  not 
agree*  Governour  would  have  had  one  Article  for  the  Peace  of 
England,  according  to  His  Majesty's  Proclamation* 

Friday  Nov?  20th  *  *  Mr*  Stoughton  &  Dudley  not  here  today* 
"Twas  Essayed  again  to  have  had  a  Sanction  put  on  the  Thanks- 
giving: but  'twas  again  pleaded,  to  do  it  without  mentioning  par- 
ticular causes  would  be  to  impose  too  much  on  those  Comanded* 

So  fell* 

Samuel  SewalL 
72 


THANKSGIVING  IN  BOSTON  IN  J685  AND  J688       73 

April  18.  1688 —  *  *  This  day  an  Order  is  made  that  next 
Sabbath-day  senight  be  a  Thanksgiving  for  the  Queen's  being  with 
Child 

Apr*  22,  1688 — Mr*  Wiilard  having  rec'd  no  Order  mentions  not 
the  Thanksgiving:  though  it  seems  one  was  sent  to  him  at  noon  to 
mention  itt  but  left  no  Order  with  him, 

April  29 — Mr,  Willard  received  an  Order  about  the  Thanks- 
giving on  Satterday  night;  yet  read  it  not  this  day,  but  after  the 
Notes  said  such  an  Occasion  was  by  the  Governour  recommended 

to  be  given  Thanks  for, 

Samuel  Sewatt. 


